NZB Weanling & Broodmare Sale Catalogue Out Now

Catalogues for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2012 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale (7-9 May) are hot off the press and set to go in the post tomorrow.

With 686 entries, the 2012 May Sale is set to offer buyers some outstanding racing, breeding and investment opportunities with a catalogue full of well-bred weanlings, broodmares and racing propositions.

Selling will commence at 10am on Monday 7 May with 350 weanling entries. The weanling session was the subject of strong demand last year with buyers from across Australasia active in the ring, but with the 2011 average weanling price just over NZ$13,000, it offers unbeatable value for those looking to source quality weanlings.

The NZ weanling session has rapidly made a name for itself as a leading source for pinhookers, with a number of last year's purchases that returned to the sale ring as yearlings at Karaka 2012 providing substantial returns for investors.

Among the pinhooking highlights in January was the Savabeel colt purchased by Bruce and Maureen Harvey's Ascot Farm from Haunui Farm for $42,500 at last year's May Sale. The colt was then offered by Ascot Farm at the Premier Sale where he was knocked down to DGR Thoroughbreds for $270,000.

Buyers looking to emulate these results will have plenty to look forward to with the catalogue offering progeny by some of New Zealand's very best sires. Nearly 80% of all 293 purchases from Karaka 2012 destined for Australia were by sires on the New Zealand roster in the 2009 season, with the strong demand fuelled by both their achievements on the international stage and the favourable exchange rate.

New Zealand sires feature heavily in the upcoming weanling session and include Alamosa, Any Suggestion, Darci Brahma, Don Eduardo, Elusive City, Falkirk, Iffraaj, Keeper, Perfectly Ready, Pins, Pentire, O'Reilly, Sakhee's Secret, Savabeel, Sir Percy, Thorn Park, Volksraad and many more.

This line-up is well supported by weanlings by leading Australian sires including Bel Esprit, Encosta de Lago, High Chaparral, plus the progeny of 15 highly anticipated first season sires including Europe's 2008 Champion Two-Year-Old Mastercraftsman, AJC Derby winner Nom du Jeu, Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace, dual Group 1 winners Tavistock and Road to Rock, Duporth, Guillotine, Red Giant and more.

Amongst the highlights in the weanling session are:

• Siblings to the Group 1 winners Veloce Bella (Volksraad) at Lot 12, dual Group 1 winner Booming (Don Eduardo) at Lot 52 and dual Group 1 winner and sire Tavistock (Montjeu) at Lot 350.

• Colts from Group 1 winning racemares Cannsea (Canny Lad) at Lot 71 and Winning Wave (Crested Wave) at Lot 18.

The 247 broodmares on offer this year will feature mares by a number of leading broodmare sires including the incomparable Zabeel.

The damsire of 89 stakes winners, 17 at Group 1 level, Zabeel is the damsire of four Group 1 winners this season, the outstanding filly Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock), Southern Speed (Southern Image) and Silent Achiever (O'Reilly).

With 10 broodmares in the May Sale, Zabeel is joined by other leading damsires including Centaine, Danehill, Last Tycoon, Marscay and Royal Academy. The broodmare session will also offer mares that were served by Zabeel as well as Bel Esprit, Iffraaj, Makfi, Mastercraftsman, O'Reilly, Savabeel, Shocking, Showcasing, and more.

Some of the highlights of this year's broodmare session include:

• Group 1 winning mares Honor Lap (Honor Grades) at Lot 525 and Barinka (Shinko King), who has been served by Zabeel, at Lot 455.
• Lot 621, the Group 2 winning mare Scarlet Runner (Kingdom Bay), dam of the Sgp-3 winner Onceuponatime (Van Nistelrooy), who has been served by Iffraaj.

Added to the mix in 2011, the May Sale will feature the second 'Horses-in-Training' session for horses that have trialled, raced or breezed up for the NZB Ready to Run Sale in the current season. Targeting a gap in the auction market, this session offers a host of opportunities for those looking for a current racing proposition, with each entry accompanied by a video of its track performance on the NZB website.

The 2012 Horses-in-Training session will feature 25 entries including stakes winners and stakes performed horses, relations to black-type winners, including a full sister to the dual Group 1 winner Shez Sinsational (Ekraar), and promising young racehorses by Captain Rio, High Chaparral, O'Reilly and more.

The Sale will also be offering yearlings, two-year-olds, unraced horses, and a stallion share in Align.

With a number of prominent consignors offering entries on an unreserved basis, the Sale will also feature the unreserved deplenishing sale of Don McLaren's Northfields Stud. Having had wonderful success of many years with horses including Group 1 winners Zabrasive and Calveen, the Northfields Stud's sale will include weanlings by High Chaparral, Iffraaj, Keeper and Street Sense, plus mares by Flying Spur, Royal Academy and Zabeel.

To view the catalogue online, click here. New Zealand Bloodstock's National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale will be held at the Karaka sale complex from 7-9 May. Catalogues go in the post from Thursday. To order your copy please email reception@nzb.co.nz or call +64 9 298 0055.