The allure of a weanling sale is the world of possibilities that are within reach over the next few seasons, both back in the sale ring and on the racetrack. The 150-lot catalogue for next month’s 2024 NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is stacked with the right bloodlines and credentials for buyers to pursue those big dreams, similar to that on offer at Karaka but in smaller packaging.
This year’s catalogue features 20 siblings to stakes performers, along with the progeny of 15 stakes-performing mares and countless other members of elite thoroughbred families.
Below is just a small selection of some of the outstanding young horses that will be going through the Sir Patrick Hogan auditorium on Thursday 20 June.
- Brighthill Farm will offer one of the highest-profile weanlings of the sale as Lot 24. The Sweynesse colt is the first foal out of Hasstobemagic (NZ) (Scissor Kick), who is a half-sister to this season’s multiple Group-winning Melbourne three-year-old Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir). Hasstobemagic was herself a stakes performer as a two-year-old, placing in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
- Lot 140 is another weanling that is sure to turn plenty of heads. Offered by Haunui Farm, the colt is by high-class Arrowfield Stud stallion Maurice, who had yearlings sell for up to $180,000 at Karaka earlier this year. This colt is the first foal out of the classy Savabeel mare Butter Chicken (NZ), best known as a placegetter in the Group Two Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield as a three-year-old. Butter Chicken is also a full-sister to the recent Listed winner and leading Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) contender Waikato Girl (NZ) (Savabeel). Their dam Scintillula (Galileo) was a Group One placegetter and has produced four winners from four foals to race.
- Jamieson Park’s Xtravagant colt catalogued as Lot 71 is a half-brother to the classy four-year-old Holymanz (NZ) (Almanzor). A four-time winner in Victoria for the Ciaron Maher stable, Holymanz has also finished second in this season’s Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, along with a fourth in the augural $1m Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie in January.
- Another Jamieson Park offering is Lot 87, a colt by leading sire Almanzor. The dam of this colt is Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto), whose five wins included the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), the Group Three Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and two Listed races. She also finished fourth in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). This is her second foal.
- Lot 70 is a half-brother to the Listed winner (She’s A) Treasure (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) and is closely related to Group One winners Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) and Chenille (NZ) (Pentire), along with this season’s stakes-winning and undefeated two-year-old Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth). The colt is by Satono Aladdin and is being offered by Highline Thoroughbreds.
- Lot 27 comes from Grangewilliam Stud’s draft and is a filly by Derryn out of Hey Pretty Katie (Beautiful Crown). That makes her a full-sister to Mischief Managed (NZ) (Derryn), who placed in last year’s Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Hey Pretty Katie herself won two races and was a placegetter in the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
- Lot 125 is a colt from the first crop of the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner Noverre. The dam of this colt is Alagant Satin (NZ) (Al Akbar), who won the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Alagant Satin is the dam of three winners from four foals to race, including the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) placegetter Taroni (NZ) (Showcasing). This colt is consigned by Curraghmore.
- Curraghmore’s draft also features Lot 139, a colt from the first crop of the five-time Group One winner and 2021 European Horse of the Year St Mark’s Basilica. This colt is the only St Mark’s Basilica weanling in the catalogue. Lot 139 is out of Bronte Lass (NZ) (Stravinsky), who won five races and is the dam of two winners from two foals to race including the Group Three-placed Bronte Beach (NZ) (Reliable Man).
- Little Avondale Stud presents Lot 145, a filly by Time Test out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice mare Chanel’s Choice. This filly is a half-sister to Whimsical (NZ) (Savabeel), who won two of her four starts including the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Whimsical is the only foal to race so far out of Chanel’s Choice, who herself is a half-sister to the Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) winner Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer). The pedigree page also features fellow Group One winners Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat), Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie) and Espiona (Extreme Choice).
- Lot 146 is a Seaton Park filly by leading sire Proisir out of the Zabeel mare Christmas Day. Herself a winner in Australia, Christmas Day is the dam of two foals to race, who have won eight races each – including the Listed John Letts Cup (1800m) winner Pudding (NZ) (Tavistock).
All weanlings offered in the National Weanling Sale are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), as well as the new $1m Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand.
Selling is set to take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on Thursday 20 June.
