New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd. has cataloged a record 1,733 yearlings for its 76th National yearling sale conducted over nine days in January and February at the Karaka sales complex in Auckland.Leading New Zealand's sire Zabeel is represented by 53 yearlings, including the first foals from Group 1 winners Cannsea, Danelagh, Fayreform, and Grand Archway.

American Triple Crown winner and leading sire Seattle Slew has one yearling in the catalog, a filly from the Hermitage mare Fritzy, an unraced daughter of Trillionaire, winner of the Princess Royal Stakes (Eng-G3) at Royal Ascot.

Dual hemisphere sire Tale of the Cat is represented by 61 yearlings from his first Southern Hemisphere crop. Others first-season sires include Danehill's full brother, Anziyan, Red Ransom, Bahhare, End Sweep, Generous, and Peintre Celebre.

One of the probable sale toppers could be an Australian-bred colt by Danehill out of the Sir Tristram mare Tristalove, who won the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes (Aus-G1), Australasian Oaks (Aus-G1), and other group races. The colt is a full brother to Viking Ruler, the top-priced lot at the 2000 Sydney Easter yearling sale who went on to become a Group 1 winner.

The auction features the three-day premier sale from January 28-30, along with a select colt sale from January 31 to February 1. A select fillies sale will be conducted on February 3.—Delamere Usher