Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale returns for its second straight year as a standalone event, showcasing 114 weanlings, closely aligning with last year’s 119 lots (after withdrawals). The Thoroughbred Report caught up with New Zealand Bloodstock's Sales Manager Kane Jones, who shared insights on the strong lineup for pinhookers, traders, and end-users.
“We are very pleased with the quality of the catalogue. It’s a reasonably small catalogue, but the quality is very strong, and we are very excited with the sire power in the catalogue all of the way through,” Jones said.
That strength is not limited to the top end. Jones emphasised the growing relevance of weanling sales across both sides of the Tasman, noting their increasing appeal to a wide cross-section of buyers.
Kane Jones | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“Weanling sales have really built up in recent times and they are a genuine option for vendors, but equally for buyers as well,” he said.
“We’ve got people here looking to pinhook into yearling sales and ready-to-run sales, and also horses to trade, while there might be horses out there just to put aside and race as well.
“So there is something for everyone and, yeah, we’ve seen some great results come out of this sale both on the racetrack and in the sales room, with successful pinhooks as well.” - Kane Jones
“So there is something for everyone and, yeah, we’ve seen some great results come out of this sale both on the racetrack and in the sales room, with successful pinhooks as well.”
New boys on show
Weanling sales often provide the first glimpse of emerging stallions, and this year’s catalogue offers a particularly strong introduction to several exciting New Zealand first-season sires.
Among them is Cambridge Stud’s dual Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB), Chaldean (GB), whose early stock has already made an impression as he had had a filly out of the unraced Too Darn Hot (GB) mare Summerinthe city sell for $180,000 to Scott Seamer out of the Burnewang North Pastoral draft at this year's Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Chaldean (GB) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
His first-crop representation at Karaka includes Lot 3, a colt out of Novashow (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), and Lot 54, a filly from the winning mare Top Note (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}).
Windsor Park Stud’s four-time Group 1-winning shuttle stallion Paddington (GB) is also represented by two well-related weanlings. Lot 116 is a half-sister to Listed winner Dream Queen (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}), while supplementary Lot 141 is a half-brother to three winners, including G1 Randwick Guineas winner Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Paddington (GB) | Standing at Windsor Park Stud
Grangewilliam Stud’s Group 2-winning son of Fastnet Rock, Hilal, has two lots catalogued, including a filly out of the winning mare Smile (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) and a colt from Drama Series (Pierro), from the family of Group One winners Episode (Scenic {Ire}) and First Seal (Fastnet Rock).
Hilal | Standing at Grangewillam Stud
Meanwhile, Highview Stud’s Group 2-winning son of Snitzel, Mr Mozart, is well represented with six weanlings, and his progeny have already caught the attention of judges ahead of the sale off his original service fee of NZ$6000 (plus. GST.).
Jones noted the appeal of this emerging sire group, particularly as buyers look ahead to future Karaka sales.
Mr Mozart | Standing at Highview Stud
“We’ve got some really good commercial sires represented and, with all of the New Zealand-based first-season sires in the catalogue, it is very exciting,” he said.
“It’s nice to get a little sneak peek of them as we head into Karaka 2027. There are four of them - Paddington, Chaldean, Hilal and Mr Mozart, nd they are all leaving lovely horses and they profile well.”
Hallmark hold a strong hand
Hallmark Stud will present a 10-strong draft at Karaka, headlined by Lot 17, a Hello Youmzain (Fr) half-sister to G1 Waikato Sprint winner Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}).
“She is a 25th of November foal,” Hallmark Stud principal Mark Baker told loveracing.co.nz, before outlining the filly’s athleticism and attitude.
“She is plain like Bonny Lass was, but is a great mover, has a great attitude and is very athletic. She uses herself really well, she is dead correct, and she is by Hello Youmzain, who is a sire on the rise.
“She is plain like Bonny Lass was, but is a great mover, has a great attitude and is very athletic.” - Mark Baker
“She presents as an opportunity for someone to buy a lovely filly that they can either trade or race and have broodmare residual - her mother Posh Bec has got an amazing record.”
Hallmark also offers four weanlings by Cambridge Stud’s exciting young sire Sword Of State, whose first crop has already yielded two Australian stakes winners. Baker highlighted two colts in particular, Lot 39, out of Sorellina (NZ) (Pins), a full-sister to dual-Guineas heroine Katie Lee (NZ) (Pins), and Lot 136, the colt out of the dual-winner and Listed-placed Madame Giselle (NZ) (Time Test {GB}).
Lot 17 - Hello Youmzain (Fr) x Posh Bec filly | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“The Sorellina colt has got great size and scope,” Baker said.
“As with all the Sword Of States, he has got an amazing brain - they are total professionals. He is a lovely horse and there is plenty of upside with him.
“He (Lot 17) is a lovely horse and there is plenty of upside with him.” - Mark baker
“The Madame Giselle colt is another good type. She was stakes placed and he’s her first foal, he is a very good colt.”
Across the draft, Baker sees versatility as a defining feature.
Lot 39 - Sword of State x Sorellina colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“Right across the board there are opportunities for end use as a racehorse or horses they can trade at any stage, be that as a yearling, breeze-up stage or further down the track through the tried horse market.”
A good blend of stallions
Beyond the first-season sires, the catalogue is underpinned by a strong mix of proven and emerging stallions. Established names such as Proisir, the late Savabeel, Super Seth, Almanzor (Fr), Satono Aladdin (Jpn), Per Incanto (USA), Ace High, Ardrossan (NZ), Tarzino (NZ), Hello Youmzain (Fr) and Shocking feature alongside developing sires including Noverre (NZ), Sword Of State and Profondo.
Jones believes that balance further strengthens the sale’s appeal.
“We’re really pleased with the sires that are represented in the catalogue,” he said.
“I know we always say it, but I really think that there is something for everyone, and there are horses to fit all sorts of levels within the catalogue.”
“I know we always say it, but I really think that there is something for everyone, and there are horses to fit all sorts of levels within the catalogue.” - Kane Jones
The weanling roll of honour
The sale has a proven record of producing high-class performers, with recent graduates including stakes performers Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) and Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel).
Group 1 winners to emerge from the sale include Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}), Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) and Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), while Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) claimed victory in the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO.
Pignan (NZ) winning the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Jones is confident the 2026 edition will continue that trend.
“This sale has produced a number of Group 1 winners and a Karaka Million winner in recent times,” he said.
Perks of being part of the Karaka series
All weanlings offered are eligible for nomination to New Zealand Bloodstock’s lucrative Karaka Millions series, providing buyers with a clear pathway to high-value racing opportunities.
“Nominated horses have the opportunity to compete in the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO and the 3YO race,” Jones said.
“It’s a really lucrative series. All these horses are eligible to be entered and that is a massive drawcard.”
