Racing: Poignant moment at sale of last Zabeel colt

Number 3 Hardline, jockey Damian Browne wins the Karaka Million held at the Ellerslie Racing Club. Photo / Dean Purcell

Champagne corks popping, the waft of garlic prawns and steak on the barbie, and frowns as hundreds paw through a stunning catalogue of blue-blood thoroughbreds.

Yes, Karaka's unmissable stakes series comes to real life at 11am today, when Windsor Park's Rip Van Winkle-Kaapentyne colt walks into the ring.

Twenty-six lots later, the last filly to be auctioned by 15-times Australia and New Zealand champion sire Zabeel will appear.

About two hours on again and it's something you won't want to miss - Sir Patrick Hogan leading the last Zabeel colt to be sold into Karaka's world-renowned ring.

It's close to 30 years since Sir Patrick has been in that role and you won't find a more iconic moment in thoroughbred sales.

Hosts New Zealand Bloodstock have come up with the following additional reasons to be at Karaka from this morning.

Strike rate: The Karaka Sale has the best of them all, providing 37 per cent of Australasia's group one victories by yearling graduates in the past four seasons, from just 21 per cent of the auctioned crop.

Derby dominance: In a league of their own. Kiwi horses have won 40 per cent of Derbys in Australia in the past five years, including six of the past 10 AJC/ATC Australian Derbys and VRC Derbys, from less than 6 per cent of the racing crop.

Classic brilliance: Winning 32 per cent of all Australian 3YO group one races in the past five seasons, including 44 per cent at 2000m and beyond.

Success: Providing recent top-flight successes from Lucia Valentina, Sacred Falls, Aerovelocity, Costume, First Seal, Preferment, Soriano and many more.

Value: World-beating value with an average of less than NZ$73,000 in 2014.

Pedigree: Yearlings from over 130 stakes winning mares, including 20 group one winners, and more than 180 siblings to stakes winners, including to 35 group one winners.

Sire power: 70 of the best sires from New Zealand and Australia represented, including 14 sires on debut at the Karaka Premier Sale.

Select: Offering a Select Sale packed with opportunity, providing 15 group one winning graduates in the past two seasons.

Security: For added confidence, this year buyers will be able to have their yearling purchases tested for the presence of anabolic steroids.

Experience: With a world-class auction showcase and hospitality that's second to none, 1364 yearlings across the Premier, Select and Festival Sales create an unbeatable Karaka experience.

We'll add one: Put a syndicate of 10 to 12 together, find a good trainer's advice and try and jag a value runner that might have a chance of qualifying to run in next year's Karaka Million.