Group One glory in Australia last season was the latest chapter in a long success story for Pencarrow Stud at New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale – one that spans about a third of the sale’s 100-year history.

That most recent highlight came from Queensland Derby (2400m) hero Maison Louis (NZ) (Super Seth), who was bred by Pencarrow and sold through their Book 1 draft at Karaka 2023. Syndicators Go Racing paid $250,000 to buy Maison Louis, who has so far turned that into A$882,450 in stakes.

Maison Louis was one of two Group One-winning three-year-olds in Australia last season bred by Pencarrow. The other one was Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth), who was offered by Kilgravin Lodge at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale and sold for $160,000.

Pencarrow Stud was founded more than three decades ago by Sir Peter Vela and his late brother Philip. The pair boast an extraordinary record across multiple generations of their blue-blooded families, breeding more than 20 individual Group One winners and being named New Zealand Breeders of the Year in 2000 and 2002.

The quality of those Pencarrow bloodlines was quickly recognised by the buyers’ bench at Karaka. The stud made its first impact in 1992 with a third placing on the list of leading vendors by average. Pencarrow went on to be the leading vendor by average in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

2005: The Danehill Sale

In 2003, Pencarrow Stud purchased 20 Irish broodmares in foal to Danehill by southern hemisphere time to bring them back to foal in New Zealand. As a result, Pencarrow’s draft for Karaka 2025 included nine yearlings – four colts and five fillies – from the last southern hemisphere crop of the phenomenal stallion, which were among his last 18 yearlings to go on sale. Danehill’s final 18 lots brought $8.68m at an average of $542,500.

That included Pencarrow’s sale-topping filly Enchanteress (NZ) (Danehill), who fetched a New Zealand record price for a filly at $1.3m when purchased by Adrian Nicoll of BBA Ireland in a bidding war against Irish agent Demi O’Byrne. Enchanteress was trained by David Hayes for a line-up of international racing identities that included Lord Lloyd-Webber, Lord Vestey and the Hon Peter Stanley. She won on debut in South Australia but only had three further starts. At stud she produced the 2022 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Uareastar (NZ) (Jakkalberry).

The Million-Dollar Yearlings

Enchanteress was one of five sale-topping yearlings sold by Pencarrow Stud at the National Yearling Sale. Pencarrow’s drafts have produced no fewer than six yearlings that have broken the $1m mark.

Their first sale-topper was in 1994 when they sold Noble Stallion (NZ) (Star Way) for $275,000 to Rob McAnulty.

A decade later came one of the biggest highlights in Pencarrow’s proud history. Their 2004 draft included a colt by Danehill out of homebred Group One Australasian Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel), a three-quarter-sister to Pencarrow’s iconic mare Romanee Conti (NZ) (Sir Tristram). The blue-blooded colt was offered as Lot 509 and was bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $1.1m.

Te Akau named the colt Darci Brahma (NZ), and he won 10 of his 19 starts and $1.23m. His victories included the Group One TJ Smith 2YO Classic (1600m), New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Otaki-Maori WFA (1600m), Telegraph Handicap (1200m) and Waikato Sprint (1400m). He ran second in another five Group One races including the Australian Guineas (1600m).

Darci Brahma stood at The Oaks Stud from 2007 to 2022, and he has sired 619 winners from 879 runners. His 59 individual stakes winners include the Group One stars Nashville (NZ), Julinsky Prince (NZ), Recite (NZ), Sierra Sue (NZ), Catalyst (NZ), Risque (NZ), Artistic (NZ), Irish Fling (NZ), Kahma Lass (NZ), D B Pin (NZ), Devise (NZ) and Gust Of Wind (NZ). The latter was the last horse to defeat the legendary Winx (NZ) (Street Cry) when she won the Australian Oaks (2400m).

Grand Echezeaux was also the dam of Saperavi (NZ) (Stravinsky), who went through the Karaka sale ring in 2006 and was bought by Ellis for a sale-topping $2.2m. His four-start career included a maiden win and a third placing at Listed level, and he sired 22 winners at stud including Listed winner Orovela (NZ).

Grand Echezeaux’s third seven-figure yearling was Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), who Ellis bought for $1.3m from the 2010 Premier Sale. Described by Te Akau as the fastest horse to ever grace their talent-stacked stable, Burgundy had 12 starts for seven wins including the Group Three Cambridge

Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Mr Tiz Trophy (1200m), Canterbury Stakes (1600m), Flying Handicap (1400m) and Levin Stakes (1200m). He also placed in the Group One Telegraph Handicap (1200m), Great Northern Guineas (1600m) and Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m).

Burgundy stood at Cambridge Stud from 2013 until his untimely death in 2019. He has sired 105 winners from 205 runners, with eight stakes winners headed by Maven Belle (NZ) and Belle En Rouge (NZ) at Group One level.

Pencarrow’s 2016 sale-topper was the very first yearling by the legendary Frankel to be sold in the southern hemisphere. Tangmere (NZ) was the third-to-last lot in the Premier Sale catalogue. He was purchased by Adrian Ncoll of the BBA after a bidding duel with Peter Moody. Nicoll was representing an international syndicate which included himself, Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum from Dubai, the Niarchos family from France and Apollo Ng from Hong Kong. Tangmere landed a Sydney win as a three-year-old and then added four wins in Hong Kong.

In 2021, Ellis bought Stella Splendida (NZ) (Zoustar) for $800,000. She was a dominant winner on debut as a spring three-year-old and went on to have a total of 12 starts for four wins and two placings.

Other Notable Performers

In addition to the likes of Darci Brahma, Burgundy, Maison Louis and Feroce mentioned above, many other Pencarrow-bred horses have gone from the Karaka sale ring to racetrack stardom.

Hoeberg (NZ) (Maroof) was a $350,000 purchase by Dominion Bloodstock from Pencarrow’s draft at the 1999 Premier Sale. She won 10 races including the Group One South African Fillies Guineas (1600m) and Cape Fillies Guineas (1600m). She also placed on the world stage in the Group One Dubai Duty Free (1777m).

De Beers (NZ) (Quest For Fame) was bought by Rob McAnulty for $750,000 from the 2004 Premier Sale. He went on to win the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

A mere $60,000 was enough to purchase Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi) from the 2015 Premier Sale. Her 11-start career produced three wins, six placings and more than $270,000 in stakes. She won the Group Three Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and the Group Three Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie, and she ran third in the Group One VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington. Eleonora has since produced two winners from three foals to race, including the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner-up Ethereal Star (Snitzel).

Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) was a $40,000 purchase from Pencarrow’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2021, then later fetched $100,000 at the Ready to Run Sale. He was an eight-time winner in 13 career starts, earning A$858,625 headed by a Group One triumph in the South Australian Derby (2500m).

The 100^th edition of the NZB National Yearling Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from January 25 to 29, with Book 1 on January 25 and 26, Book 2 on January 27 and the new Karaka Summer Sale on January 29.

Pencarrow Stud has 18 yearlings in the catalogue for Book 1 and six in Book 2.