Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
At A Glance
The aggregate after two days of the new format sale in 2026 is NZ$79,022,500 for 422 lots sold, which compared to $75,332,500 from the three days of Book 1 last year from 457 lots sold.
The average finished at NZ$187,257 which was up from 2025’s average of NZ$171,692. The median rose to NZ$$140,000 compared to 2025’s NZ$110,000. The clearance rate has increased slightly to 81%, compared to 77% achieved in 2025.
The top-seller on Day 2 was Lot 513, a Sword Of State colt from La Brisas (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) and he is a half-brother to $9 million earner and triple Group 1 winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}). Offered by Cambridge Stud, she was secured by Mr Sanxiong Gao ad Ciaron Maher Bloodstock Pty Ltd for NZ$1.1 million. The sale topper in 2025 sold for NZ$2.4 million.
David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) remains on top of the buyer’s leaderboard, having spent NZ$4.26 million on 17 yearlings across both days of the sale. B2B Thoroughbreds leads the buyers by average (2 or more bought), buying two yearlings at an average of NZ$450,000 each.
Leading the way in terms of vendors by aggregate is Cambridge Stud, who have sold 50 yearlings for a combined NZ$10.64 million at an average of NZ$212,800. Milan Park leads the vendors on average (2 or more sold) with an average price of NZ$277,727 across 11 yearlings sold.
Satono Aladdin (Jpn) is the leading sire by aggregate, with 40 lots sold for a total of NZ$8 million at an average of NZ$200,825. Snitzel heads the sires’ list by average (two or more sold). He has had two yearlings average NZ$705,000. Anamoe is the leading first season sire with six yearlings selling for NZ$2.9 million at an average of NZ$487,000.
Sword Of State tops the sale with Ceowulf’s half-bro
When your half-brother is the outstanding three-time Group 1 winner Ceowulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), your sire is the exciting Sword Of State who has been in hot demand, and you have been reared at the famous Cambridge Stud, expectations are high.
Often in the world of Bloodstock, expectations are not always reached, but when the gavel came down on Lot 513 - the colt out of Las Brisas (GB) from the Cambridge Stud draft, expectations were surpassed as Will Bourne bidding on behalf of Mr Sanxiong Gao and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock Pty Ltd went to a sale-topping $1.1 million.
Lot 513: Sword of State x Las Brisas (GB) colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“David Ellis is a hard guy to beat, especially here on his home deck. But he’s a lovely horse. We got some great support from a new client, Mr Gao, and we’re thrilled to have him on board. “ Head of Bloodstock for Ciaron Maher Racing Will Bourne commented.
“Ciaron Maher sent me the videos of this horse when we were working through a shortlist five days ago. He was one of Ciaron’s picks. I’ve just got off the phone with Ciaron now. He’s delighted and he wants me to sell the last shares, so I’m going to go and do that now.”
“Ciaron Maher sent me the videos of this horse when we were working through a shortlist five days ago.” - Will Bourne
When asked around the Comparisons with Ceolwulf:
“There’s some similarities, although one was a cheaper purchase that developed into a really nice horse over time. This one has a lot of strength and is very much a yearling sales horse. There’s a lot of power there. I feel like he’s a different type of horse – he’s very imposing and a proper colt. We’ll get him home and try to turn him into something.”
Will Bourne | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
When asked about the sire Sword Of State, who is only a second season sire, but has started very well.
“We’ve got one that we bought last year that’s showing really good ability at home, and obviously we’ve seen the horse that Bjorn Baker has. For a young stallion to start the way he has is a credit to Cambridge Stud. We’re happy to support them. They do such a good job and are so supportive of the industry here and the community. Sword Of State is a nice stallion on the up.”
“For a young stallion to start the way he (Sword of State) has is a credit to Cambridge Stud.” - Will Bourne
Dwyer goes back to the well with a Ghaiyyath
Henry Dwyer Racing, Hurworth Bloodstock and Glentree Thoroughbreds signed the docket of Lot 341 for $360,000 for the classy looking filly that was consigned by Carlaw Park.
She is the fourth foal from the three-time winning Not A Single Doubt mare Champagne Lucy , and comes from the family of the G1 Victorian Derby winner Extra Brut (Domesday)
Dwyer has a connection with the former Darley Stud shuttler, having trained Different Gravy (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) to win the Listed Batman Stakes and the $400,000 Melbourne Classic.
Lot 341: Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Champagne Lucy filly | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“Obviously, Ghaiyyath, We've got different gravy at home, and the stallions statistics speak for himself, he could be one of the next big things the stallion.
“To buy a nice filly by him, you're always gonna have to pay a little bit of money. She's just as good a type of filly that we thought was here at the sale.”
“She's (Lot 341) just as good a type of filly that we thought was here at the sale.” - Henry Dwyer
The fact is, she's by Ghaiyyath, its just the cherry on top.”
Dwyer alluded to the fact that Ghaiyyath (Ire) had done the hard work from not the best quality and quantity of mares.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s only had small numbers. He obviously didn't come back this year, or the season just gone, which is so common for these European staying stallions.
“This filly we're probably gonna leave her in New Zealand, actually, and she'll stay with Tony Pike for the first year of her career. And if she is up and going early enough, we might sort of set up some 2-year-old races here and try and get a black type.
“Regardless, she will come back to Australia as a 3 year old, but she's not ready to race. She will just come back over to Australia.
Alabama on fire
Millie Walls has had a busy sale spending more than $3.6 million across Sunday and Monday,and he added some real quality with an Alabama Express colt purchase under his KPW Bloodstock banner, as he purchased Lot 383 - a colt out of the winner Diva Carolina (Tivaci) for $850,000 from the Elsdon Park draft on behalf of Ron and Judi Wanless .
An outstanding result for Elsdon Park, as the impressive colt is only the first foal out of the mare, who traces back to the outstanding three-time Listed winner Ombre Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who was also twice Group 1 placed.
Lot 383: Alabama Express x Diva Carolina colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“We buy purely on type and we rated this colt as one of the best types in the sale,” Walls said. “He stood out. He’s a very nice horse.
“We buy purely on type and we rated this colt as one of the best types in the sale.” - Millie Walls
“Once he (Ron Wanless) starts, he tries hard. He loves racing. It’s his hobby, it’s his passion. Both Ron and Judi love their horses, love their racing and have been in the game for a long time.
“He’s eligible for the Vobis Sires bonus, so no doubt he’ll be going to Melbourne,”
Millie Walls | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Alabama Express, who stands at Yulong Stud, also had a fantastic result when Suman Hedge Bloodstock paid $490,000 for Lot 375, also from Elsdon Park. That filly is out of Daniela's Magic (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). Who is a full sister to Saracino (NZ) (Per Incato {USA}), a three-time Group 2 winner on both sides of the Tasman, and also a Listed winner in Western Australia.
Baker has been busy
Bjorn Baker has made an impact throughout the two days of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale, being involved in securing a total of 7 yearlings for a total of $2,145,000, at an average of $306,428.
One that stood out to the now Warwick Farm-based trainer was Lot 394, the Anamoe colt out of Easifar (Pride Of Dubai) who was a Listed winner in Queensland, and a half sister to Readytogorightnow (More Than Ready {USA}) a dual Group 3 winner and Listed winner in South Africa.
Lot 394: Anamoe x Easifar colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“We are really happy to be back here first and foremost and very happy to get the horses we have so far, particularly the Anamoe from Wentwood Grange, who have a phenomenal record at breeding horses, in particular really good horses in Sydney.
“This guy will go back there, we are very happy to get him, we thought he was one of the picks of the sale, a lovely horse, Anamoe is a superstar.
“We thought he was one of the picks of the sale, a lovely horse.” - Bjorn Baker
“I was unlucky enough to meet him on the track on a few occasions, so I'm excited to get a son of Anamoe. He’s a very nice horse, we have bought some really lovely horses, the Proisir is beautiful, the Savabeel, goes without saying he has been a great stallion.
“We know the Kiwi horses always bat above their average.”
When asked about the qaulity of the sale and the yearlings on offer this year,
“The quality has been great, it always is great, and I guess the proof is in the pudding, New Zealand horses just keep doing a phenomenal job in Australia and that is what we need.”
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Tuxedo’s half-brother heads to O’Shea and Charlton
The half-brother to the classy Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci), by Super Seth and offered as Lot 298, was secured for NZ$320,000 by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton from the renowned Waikato Stud draft.
The purchase came on the back of a major weekend for the family, with Tuxedo in scintillating form on Saturday night when claiming the NZ$1.04 million G3 Aotearoa Classic at Ellerslie. That victory further enhanced his record which included a standout 3-year-old campaign last season, which delivered wins in the G2 Waikato Guineas and G3 Wellington Stakes, underlining both class and consistency.
Lot 298: Super Seth x Ball Gown colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The colt is very much a Waikato Stud product, being by emerging sire Super Seth and out of the placed O’Reilly (NZ) mare Ball Gown (NZ). Depth runs throughout the pedigree, with influential broodmare sires such as Savabeel, Pins, and Pompeii Court (USA) featuring prominently, adding strength and durability to the page.
That combination of performance, pedigree and physical appeal resonated strongly with the buyers.
“Super Seth is a super horse, and one we have had a bit of luck with, and we have a really strong opinion of him, and we want to continue to try and buy them, and this was one of thee horses that appealed to us” co-purchaser Tom Charlton committed.
“Beyond the stallion’s rising profile, the colt himself made a powerful impression on inspection, ticking key boxes for athleticism and type.
“He was a very athletic horse. He's got out of an O'Reilly mare, which we like, and obviously a half to a very decent horse.” - Tom Charlton
“He looks like a good model of the stallion. He was a very athletic horse. He's out of an O'Reilly mare, which we like, and obviously a half to a very decent horse.
Tom Charlton | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
For O’Shea and Charlton, the appeal was not just in the individual, but in the broader story - a colt shaped by a proven farm, a fashionable sire, and a pedigree already delivering on the track.
“It’s a pure product from a great farm isn't it? Its all positive around the stallion and he is a horse that we are very happy to be taking home.”
Top Lots
| 513 | Sword of State | Las Brisas (GB) | Bay | Colt | Cambridge Stud | Mr Sanxiong Gao / Ciaron Maher Bloodstock Pty Ltd | Victoria | $1,100,000 |
| 471 | Justify (USA) | Heart to Heart (GB) | Bay or Brown | Colt | Landsdowne Park Ltd | Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock | New South Wales | $950,000 |
| 383 | Alabama Express | Diva Carolina | Bay | Colt | Elsdon Park | KPW Bloodstock | Queensland | $850,000 |
| 516 | Toronado (Ire) | Les Crayeres (NZ) | Bay | Filly | Pencarrow Stud | Barneswood Farm | Auckland | $800,000 |
| 394 | Anamoe | Easifar (NZ | Bay | Colt | Wentwood Grange | Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) / Ridgmont | New South Wales | $600,000 |
| 445 | Anamoe | Gemstone Bay (NZ) | Bay | Filly | Windsor Park Stud | Stephen Marsh Racing / Dylan Johnson Bloodstock | Waikato | $600,000 |
| 485 | The Autumn Sun | Infinite Wonder (Ire) | Bay | Colt | Curraghmore | Mr Sanxiong Gao | China | $525,000 |
| 292 | Satono Aladdin (Jpn) | Avisto (NZ) | Bay | Filly | Curraghmore | B2B Thoroughbreds | New South Wales | $500,000 |
| 375 | Alabama Express | Daniela's Magic (NZ) | Bay | Filly | Elsdon Park | Suman Hedge Bloodstock | Victoria | $490,000 |
| 438 | Sword of State | Fuld's Bet | Bay | Filly | Cambridge Stud | Scott Cameron Racing Pty Ltd / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock | Victoria | $475,000 |
Buyers by gross
| David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) | 17 | $4,260,000 | $250,588 |
| Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock | 10 | $3,715,000 | $371,500 |
| KPW Bloodstock | 9 | $3,630,000 | $403,333 |
| Craig Ramsay | 9 | $2,245,000 | $249,444 |
| Stephen Marsh Racing / Dylan Johnson Bloodstock | 8 | $2,130,000 | $266,250 |
| Bjorn Baker Racing / Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) | 6 | $1,545,000 | $257,500 |
| Mulberry Racing | 4 | $1,470,000 | $367,500 |
| Lindsay Park Racing / Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) | 6 | $1,405,000 | $234,167 |
| O'Shea Charlton Racing / James Bester Bloodstock | 7 | $1,320,000 | $188,571 |
| Mr RA James / Mr R Wellwood | 7 | $1,240,000 | $177,143 |
Buyers by average (2 or more bought)
| B2B Thoroughbreds | 2 | $900,000 | $450,000 |
| Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) | 2 | $850,000 | $425,000 |
| Mr Ryan Fownes | 2 | $825,000 | $412,500 |
| KPW Bloodstock | 9 | $3,630,000 | $403,333 |
| Waikato Bloodstock | 2 | $760,000 | $380,000 |
| Chris Waller Racing / Mulcaster Bloodstock | 10 | $3,715,000 | $371,500 |
| Mulberry Racing | 4 | $1,470,000 | $367,500 |
| Mr Sanxiong Gao | 3 | $995,000 | $331,667 |
| The Hong Kong Jockey Club | 2 | $635,000 | $317,500 |
| Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds | 3 | $820,000 | $273,333 |
Vendors by gross
| Cambridge Stud | 50 | 4 | 4 | $10,640,000 | $212,800 |
| Waikato Stud Ltd | 34 | 9 | 12 | $5,760,000 | $169,412 |
| Elsdon Park | 24 | 3 | $4,920,000 | $205,000 | |
| Curraghmore | 18 | 4 | $4,765,000 | $264,722 | |
| Wentwood Grange | 27 | 3 | 5 | $4,740,000 | $175,556 |
| Landsdowne Park Ltd | 17 | 3 | 5 | $4,245,000 | $249,706 |
| Windsor Park Stud | 24 | 4 | 2 | $4,215,000 | $175,625 |
| Trelawney Stud Ltd | 13 | 1 | 3 | $3,460,000 | $266,154 |
| Haunui Farm | 21 | 1 | 5 | $3,405,000 | $162,143 |
| Little Avondale Stud | 15 | 1 | 4 | $3,235,000 | $215,667 |
Vendors by average (2 or more sold)
| Milan Park | 11 | 3 | $3,055,000 | $277,727 | |
| Trelawney Stud Ltd | 13 | 1 | 3 | $3,460,000 | $266,154 |
| Curraghmore | 18 | 4 | $4,765,000 | $264,722 | |
| Landsdowne Park Ltd | 17 | 3 | 5 | $4,245,000 | $249,706 |
| Ardsley Stud Ltd | 3 | 3 | $680,000 | $226,667 | |
| Hallmark Stud | 8 | 1 | 2 | $1,810,000 | $226,250 |
| Little Avondale Stud | 15 | 1 | 4 | $3,235,000 | $215,667 |
| Cambridge Stud | 50 | 4 | 4 | $10,640,000 | $212,800 |
| Elsdon Park | 24 | 3 | $4,920,000 | $205,000 | |
| Kaha Nui Farm | 6 | 4 | $1,125,000 | $187,500 |
Sires by gross
| Satono Aladdin (Jpn) | 40 | 5 | 9 | $8,035,000 | $200,875 |
| Proisir | 37 | 4 | 13 | $7,165,000 | $193,649 |
| Super Seth | 30 | 3 | 7 | $5,685,000 | $189,500 |
| Savabeel | 26 | 4 | 5 | $5,575,000 | $214,423 |
| Sword of State | 20 | 2 | 3 | $5,205,000 | $260,250 |
| Ardrossan | 20 | 2 | 7 | $3,220,000 | $161,000 |
| Almanzor (Fr) | 23 | 1 | $3,175,000 | $138,043 | |
| Per Incanto (USA) | 16 | 6 | $3,030,000 | $189,375 | |
| Anamoe | 6 | 2 | 2 | $2,925,000 | $487,500 |
| Profondo | 22 | 3 | 12 | $2,810,000 | $127,727 |
Sires by average (2 or more sold)
| Snitzel | 2 | 1 | $1,410,000 | $705,000 | |
| Anamoe | 6 | 2 | 2 | $2,925,000 | $487,500 |
| Too Darn Hot (GB) | 2 | 2 | 3 | $795,000 | $397,500 |
| The Autumn Sun | 3 | $1,140,000 | $380,000 | ||
| Ghaiyyath (Ire) | 2 | $735,000 | $367,500 | ||
| Alabama Express | 5 | 1 | $1,790,000 | $358,000 | |
| In the Congo | 3 | 1 | $890,000 | $296,667 | |
| Justify (USA) | 7 | $2,050,000 | $292,857 | ||
| Toronado (Ire) | 6 | 2 | $1,725,000 | $287,500 | |
| Sword of State | 20 | 2 | 3 | $5,205,000 | $260,250 |
