Three yearlings from the North Taieri stud farm arrived in the north late last week before the book one section of the sale.
White Robe Lodge enjoyed good success at last year’s sale without having a yearling in book one, the premier section of the Karaka sales.
This year it has three yearlings to sell alongside the country’s most royally bred young horses in book one so the southerners seem set for an even better year.
"This draft is as strong as any we have taken to Karaka in recent years," stud manager Wayne Stewart said.
"I think our colts are all very good types and all very athletic horses and they should sell accordingly."
The three-strong team is made up of a Ghibellines colt from Cherry Creek, an Ocean Park colt from Girls On Top and a Savabeel colt from Include.
One of the features of White Robe Lodge draft is the class their dams showed on the racetrack.
"Between the three horses we have in book one, they are from mares that have won 26 races."
"There are probably not that many drafts that would have mares that have won that many races."
Another feature of the draft is the diversity among the yearlings’ sires.
White Robe Lodge’s own up-and-coming sire, Ghibellines, is represented alongside two of Australasia’s most sought-after stallions in Ocean Park and Savabeel.
The mix of bloodlines in the White Robe Lodge draft should offer something for every buyer.
It is hoped the Ghibellines colt from eight-win mare Cherry Creek can outdo his older half-sister.
A Per Incanto filly from the mare, who is the dam of former southern star Coulee, topped last year’s South Island sale at Christchurch.
"He is a lovely type of horse — well balanced — and he is a mature type of horse. He certainly won’t take long to get to the races; he is very forward."
A full sister to the yearling by Savabeel from Include fetched $230,000 at Karaka two years ago.
There seems no reason little brother cannot sell for even more.
"His full sister that we sold is in Mike Moroney’s stable now and in full work.
"He is a lovely well balanced and athletic horse, which you would expect being by Savabeel and out of Include." The success of the White Robe draft will rely on the strength of the thoroughbred market.
The continued demand for quality New Zealand yearlings mean it should be strong, Stewart said.
Book one selling starts on Sunday.
White Robe Lodge has three yearlings in the book two section of the Karaka sale, starting next Wednesday.
They include Ghibellines colts from Perceptible and Personal Column and an Ocean Park colt from Danger Point.
