The subtly changing face of the New Zealand Thoroughbred has been reflected in the largest and strongest representation of horses from across the Tasman yet entered for a Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which begins Jan. 7.
Six Kiwi farms will sell under their own banner, with several more represented in Australian studs' drafts, as they move to strike while the iron is hot. New Zealand-breds have won 21.2% of Australian group 1 races over the past three seasons from just 7.9% of runners, according to figures from NZ Thoroughbred Marketing.
While there will still be the odd archetypal New Zealand Classics type on offer, the selection will more largely reflect the Gold Coast sale's need for speed, with a good dash of 2-year-old precocity thrown in.
Waikato Stud offers 10 lots—including three by their farm's second-generational first-season sire Noverre. Cambridge and Kaha Nui Farm have nine each, the trans-Tasman Westbury Stud has brought across four New Zealand-breds in their 21-horse draft, while Wentwood Grange and Little Avondale have three apiece.
And of all the New Zealand-based sires represented, it's likely none will be more keenly followed than Cambridge's second-season stallion Hello Youmzain, who has two lots in his own stud's draft and one in Little Avondale's.
The 8-year-old, who shuttles from his French owners Haras D'Etreham, has just come off a booming debut season with his runners in Europe. He was France's leading first-season sire by all three major measures: earnings, winners (13 from 33 runners), and stakes winners (two), and by wins (16) for good measure.
He finished fifth on France's 2-year-old sires' table, which was topped by Wootton Bassett and Siyouni, but beat those heavyweights by winners—sharing top spot with Goken—and was equal-second for stakes winners.
Cambridge's NZ$30,000 (plus GST) sire also ranked a highly creditable seventh among Britain's first season stallions. With France not known for an emphasis on 2-year-olds, it's little wonder Haras D'Etreham has bumped the stallion's service fee to €40,000 in 2025, up from the €22,500 he stood for in 2024.
Hello Youmzain had three yearlings average NZ$195,000 at the Gold Coast last year, while his one Inglis Easter lot fetched NZ$400,000.
And that first southern crop is off to a promising start.
"We were delighted with the season Hello Youmzain had in Europe," Cambridge's bloodstock manager Cameron Ring told ANZ Bloodstock News.
"To be champion first-season sire in France by earnings, stakes-winners and individual winners, he was a very dominant first-season sire there. He got fairly close to being champion first season sire in England too, and that hasn't been done by a French-based stallion in many years."
Cambridge's two Hello Youmzain colts at the Gold Coast start with Lot 154, who's out of the well-bred Anchovy—a three-quarter sister to Europe's champion 3-Year-Old of 2013 Ruler Of The World, and to dual stakes-winner Norway.
"This colt is an exceptional type who's from a very strong European family," Ring said. "It was a simple mating, since Hello Youmzain's sire Kodiac is by Danehill, and Danehill over Galileo is one of the best crosses in the world."
Lot 887 is the first foal of dual winner Savasilk (NZ) and is from the same family as recent Flemington Listed winner Miraval Rose (AUS).
"He's a really nice first foal with plenty of size and scope, and we thought he fits the right profile type-wise for the Gold Coast sale," Ring said.
"This is our biggest Gold Coast draft and I strongly believe it's the best one we've brought over," he said.
