Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
At A Glance
Clearance across the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale improved to 89% from 73% in 2025, and the aggregate increased to NZ$3,593,00 up 49% from NZ$2,410,000 in 2025.
Across the whole sale, 102 horses were sold, up from 84 in 2025 and 77 in 2024. The average lifted to NZ$35,255, up 23% from NZ$28,690 in 2025.
The top lot was the Chaldean (GB) colt from Novashow (Showcasing {GB}) who was offered by Haunui Farm and purchased by Bhima Thoroughbreds for NZ$250,000.
Paul Pertab Bloodstock was the leading buyer, spending NZ$310,000 on three weanlings. This also made him the leading buyer by average (two or more bought) at NZ$103,333.
Waikato Stud headed the vendors by aggregate, selling nine lots for NZ$704,500. Highline Thoroughbreds finished the sale as the leading vendor by average (two or more sold) for the day at NZ$97,500 across two lots sold.
Super Seth led the stallions by gross with eight weanlings sold for an aggregate of NZ$965,000. First season sire Chaldean (GB) topped the averages chart with an average of NZ$152,500 for his two weanlings sold.
All metrics up on last year
The demand was strong at the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday, with all key metrics increasing from last year and a total aggregate of $3,593,000 (up 49% from 2025) achieved for the 102 weanlings sold.
The compact 114-lot catalogue (after withdrawals) also produced an increased average of $35,255 (up 23% on 2025), an impressive 89% clearance rate, had nine lots sell for NZ$100,000 or more, compared to four in 2025, and attracted a strong buying bench from Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong and Japan.
“The results today are very encouraging for the season ahead for both the Ready to Run and National Yearling Sale,” commented NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook.
Andrew Seabrook | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“The first-season sires all sold very well, and the only disappointment was that we didn’t have enough horses to sell.
“Hopefully, breeders will have a look at the results today and realise the wonderful opportunities that this Sale presents. It’s vital that this physical Weanling Sale continues, so New Zealand Bloodstock’s goal for next year is to increase the size of the catalogue.”
“Hopefully breeders will have a look at the results today and realise the wonderful opportunities that this Sale presents. It’s vital that this physical Weanling Sale continues.” - Andrew Seabrook
Chaldean strikes hot with first offered New Zealand weanling
It didn’t take long for Cambridge Stud’s Chaldean (GB) to make his mark at Karaka, with Lot 3, the striking chestnut colt out of the two-time winner Novashow (Showcasing {GB}), selling for NZ$250,000 to the bid of Mike Fleming of Bhima Thoroughbreds, who also ran fourth in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and is a granddaughter of G1 Emirates Stakes winner Bonanova (NZ) (Star Way {GB}).
The dual Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB) had already made an impression in the Southern Hemisphere, with his first Southern Hemisphere-bred weanling offered at auction bringing $180,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale in Melbourne earlier this month.
Lot 3: Chaldean (GB) x Novashow (NZ) colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Mike Fleming was particularly taken by the colt.
“I've always come over to this sale. I brought a couple of horses out here a few years ago. I didn't have much luck last year, but he is the right sort of horse that's fluid, good moving and good looking, he's a lovely horse,” Fleming said.
“He (Lot 3) is the right sort of horse that's fluid, good moving and good looking, he's a lovely horse.” - Mike Fleming
“I only came in yesterday and with the rain I didn't get out yesterday, so I waited until this morning. I looked at a very selective list, but he was right up there on the top of it.
“A few other people are coming in with him and we will get him back to New South Wales and see where he heads over there next year.
“I suppose it's always hard to know when you've got someone on the phone, but we were sort of thinking that with what he was and how he stacked up with the others, he was probably a horse that was going to make his $200,000. I suppose when we get to $200,000 you're starting converting it back into Aussie dollars, so he probably lands at about $200,000 Australian dollars.
“I try and look at all the first-season sires' produce. I know he's only the second one that's gone to auction, but he had a very good filly that sold well at Great Southern in Melbourne and if the sire is putting them together like that, well, you know, I think the Aussie buyers are going to be onto them next year as well, so that had a bearing on it too.”
Mike Fleming | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Adrian Stanley of Woburn Farm was the purchaser of the only other Chaldean offered, as he paid $55,000 to secure Lot 54 - A filly out of the Burgundy (NZ) mare Top Note (NZ).
“She was a nice type, I like the stallion, he was a fast son of Frankel and this filly was strong and a nice mover. I was happy to get her for that price," Stanley said.
Top Lots
| 3 | Chaldean (GB) | Novashow (NZ) | Colt | Haunui Farm | Bhima | $250,000 |
| 141 | Paddington (GB) | Minnaleo (NZ) | Colt | Seaton Park Ltd | Byerley Bloodstock | $190,000 |
| 16 | Super Seth | Popular (NZ) | Colt | Waikato Stud Ltd | Paul Pertab Bloodstock | $180,000 |
| 121 | Super Seth | Incanto Rose (NZ) | Colt | Haunui Farm | Bleakley Bloodstock Ltd | $180,000 |
| 133 | Super Seth | Loquita (NZ) | Colt | Highline Thoroughbreds | Tom Moore | $160,000 |
| 95 | Super Seth | Date Night (NZ) | Colt | Waikato Stud Ltd | Milan Park Stud Ltd | $150,000 |
| 81 | Wrote (Ire) | Camarosa (NZ) | Colt | Hallmark Stud | Mr Hongwei Chen | $120,000 |
| 136 | Sword of State | Madame Giselle (NZ) | Colt | Hallmark Stud | Riversley Park | $110,000 |
| 63 | Per Incanto (USA) | War Piglet | Colt | Little Avondale Stud | Kilgravin Lodge / Bevan Smith Bloodstock | $105,000 |
| 59 | Almanzor (Fr) | Vin Rouge (NZ) | Colt | Cambridge Stud | Derek Boocock | $85,000 |
| 82 | Super Seth | Caramel Sundae (NZ) | Colt | Waikato Stud Ltd | Henley Park / Woburn Farm | $85,000 |
Paddington half-brother to Lion’s Roar roars late
A supplementary entry had long shaped as one of the sale's headline lots and so it proved, with Lot 141, a Paddington (GB) colt, selling to Byerley Bloodstock for NZ$190,000 as one of the day's last lots.
The strong colt is out of the four-time winner Minnaleo (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}), herself the dam of G1 Randwick Guineas, G3 Summer Cup and Listed Wyong Cup winner Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Lot 141: Paddington (GB) x Minnaleo (NZ) colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Successful online purchaser Liam Peters explained he had long admired Paddington as a racehorse.
“I was always personally a big fan of Paddington as a racehorse. I was quite shocked that he ended up shuttling to New Zealand – I thought he was one of those top-class racehorses that they might have thought to be too valuable to shuttle. But it’s great that we have access to him through New Zealand,” Peters said.
“I'm really happy to have secured this bloke today.
“I thought he was one of those top-class racehorses that they might have thought to be too valuable to shuttle. But it’s great that we have access to him through New Zealand.” - Liam Peters
“He (Bob Peters) likes trying to aim for those Guineas or Derby style of horses, and we really hope that this bloke ends up fitting that profile. He definitely looks like he will.
“I'm very happy to be tapping into that Siyouni bloodline as well. St Mark’s Basilica has had a red-hot start as well, so it’s definitely a proven formula. We’ve got a couple of those at home that we quite like. It’ll be interesting going forward to see how they mature.
“The exchange rate definitely helps. I think we saw that with the yearling sale earlier in the year as well. We bought up there – I think we ended up with six, and we’re very happy with all those purchases. So we just thought we might as well have a crack, and really glad that we were able to secure something, even though it was so late in the sale.
“We’ll bring him straight here and put him out with a few other weanlings and see how he compares with them. Hopefully he’s one of the standouts going forward.”
Liam Peters | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Windsor Park Stud’s Nick Hewson was not surprised to see the Seaton Park offered colt command such strong attention, with the team at Windsor Park having been impressed with the type of stock their stallion is leaving.
“We're not surprised he sold well and it is a great start for the stallion. He was a lovely colt out of Minnaleo, who has left a Group 1 winner. He's a beautiful moving colt, lovely depth to him, great heart girth, which is quite common for the stock of Paddington,” Hewson said.
“We're not surprised he sold well... He's (Lot 141)a beautiful moving colt, lovely depth to him, great heart girth, which is quite common for the stock of Paddington.” - Nick Hewson
“We're very excited about the yearling sales coming up and, typically, they've got a beautiful head, great temperament, are beautiful-moving horses and possess good substance and quality.
“We're going to have a lovely draft ourselves next year, but when you go around to people and they're saying they've got the best Paddington, you know that he's leaving a very, very good line of horse. People have bred back on the back of how strong his weanlings have been. Everyone has been very taken and impressed by them.
“It’s great to be standing a horse of this quality on behalf of Coolmore and we have got a lot to look forward to at Karaka in January with the yearlings.”
Nick Hewson | Image courtesy of Windsor Park Stud
Super Seth progeny sell strongly
A stallion always likely to be in demand was the now Coolmore Stud-based Super Seth, and so it proved. He had eight weanlings sold from nine offered for a total of NZ$965,000 and a healthy average of NZ$120,625.
Lot 16 and Lot 121 were the sire’s joint top-sellers at NZ$180,000, with Libby Bleakley of Bleakley Bloodstock signing for Lot 121, the colt out of the unraced Per Incanto (USA) mare Incanto Rose (NZ), from the family of stakes winners Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Queens Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Rose ‘N’ Power (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Gallery: Top-selling Super Seth progeny, images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Bleakley was delighted to secure her top selection of the sale.
“He was a really nice colt. We came here a few weanlings short at the end of the Australian series, so we just needed a couple of really nice standouts by good sires to fill out the draft for January. We are very happy to get our top-ranked one, very happy to get him,” she said.
“He was a really nice colt. We came here a few weanlings short at the end of the Australian series... We are very happy to get our top-ranked one, very happy to get him.” - Libby Bleakley
When asked whether she anticipated paying that figure, Bleakley admitted she had not.
“Not at all. The market here today is very, very strong, and the vendors are having a field day here with the nice horses, and hopefully that inspires more people to breed next year.
“You can do very, very well at the weanling sales. As he came into the ring, I was messaging my clients saying, 'We need to flex our muscles a little bit here,' because he was the one that we really wanted.
“Also being out of a Per Incanto mare, and with Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong out of a Per Incanto mare, Per Incanto as a broodmare sire is having great success, so I'm happy to add him to the band at home.”
Libby Bleakley | Image courtesy of Highden Peak
Pertab strikes with proven sires and a promising newcomer
Matamata horseman Paul Pertab picked up three weanlings throughout the day for a total of NZ$310,000 which made him the sale's leading buyer. His purchases included Lot 16, the standout Super Seth colt out of Popular (NZ) (Savabeel) from Waikato Stud that joint-topped the sire’s results at NZ$180,000, Lot 14, a Per Incanto (USA) filly from the family of Tavistock (NZ) for NZ$65,000, and Lot 100, a son of first-season sire Hilal from the Curraghmore draft, also for NZ$65,000.
Asked what attracted him to the Super Seth colt, Pertab kept it simple.
“Good legs, good sire, nice balance. They change so much between now and when we put a saddle on them, so you've just got to go with your gut instinct, and I thought he was a tidy horse.”
Lot 14: Per Incanto (USA) x Play a Part (NZ) filly | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Pertab said the colt's future would largely depend on how he developed.
“Just depending on what sale he fits at the time, we will just wait and see, but he gives us good options. He might trial, he might be a Ready to Run horse, he might race, but I will be happy to look at him in my paddock until then.”
“He (Lot 12) might trial, he might be a Ready to Run horse, he might race, but I will be happy to look at him in my paddock until then.” - Paul Pertab
Asked about Super Seth, who is now located at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley after being purchased by Waikato Stud, Pertab was pleased to finally secure one.
“I couldn't afford one until today, so I'm glad to pick one up. There are some really nice horses at this sale. I guess it’s all about budget. There's a lot of unknowns with weanlings and there's just no guarantees in what you're getting, but I'm happy with the two I've bought so far.”
Paul Pertab | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Pertab was equally pleased with his other purchases.
“The Per Incanto is a nice filly by a good stallion and a nice tidy type and off a good farm in Brighthill Farm, and the colt was a nice type by a new sire in Hilal.”
Top Buyers by Aggregate
| Paul Pertab Bloodstock | 3 | $310,000 | $103,333 |
| Bhima | 1 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| Milan Park Stud Ltd | 2 | $195,000 | $97,500 |
| Byerley Bloodstock | 1 | $190,000 | $190,000 |
| Bleakley Bloodstock Ltd | 1 | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Kilgravin Lodge / Bevan Smith Bloodstock | 2 | $165,000 | $82,500 |
| Tom Moore | 1 | $160,000 | $160,000 |
| Henley Park / Woburn Farm | 2 | $160,000 | $80,000 |
| Kaha Nui Farm | 2 | $140,000 | $70,000 |
| Mr Hongwei Chen | 1 | $120,000 | $120,000 |
Top Buyer by Average
| Paul Pertab Bloodstock | 3 | $103,333 | $310,000 |
| Milan Park Stud Ltd | 2 | $97,500 | $195,000 |
| Kilgravin Lodge / Bevan Smith Bloodstock | 2 | $82,500 | $165,000 |
| Henley Park / Woburn Farm | 2 | $80,000 | $160,000 |
| Kaha Nui Farm | 2 | $70,000 | $140,000 |
| Belle Bloodstock | 2 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| Chris Rutten Bloodstock (BAFNZ) | 2 | $29,000 | $58,000 |
| Bevan Smith Bloodstock | 4 | $25,750 | $103,000 |
| Sparta Racing / Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) | 2 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
| Ed Stapleton Bloodstock (BAFNZ) / Ralph Thoroughbreds Ltd | 2 | $18,000 | $36,000 |
Kaha Nui takes a liking to Sword Of State
Nicky and Nick White’s Kaha Nui operation is always active at weanling sales across Australasia as they look to build their team for the yearling sales. Last year, the well-renowned pinhookers were the sale’s leading buyer, spending NZ$300,000 on three weanlings, including the second and third top lots.
This year they took a particular liking to the progeny of Cambridge Stud-based Sword Of State, who has made such a promising start at stud.
Lot 30: Sword of State x Sarsarun (NZ) filly | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
They secured Lot 30, a filly out of Listed winner Sarsarun (NZ) (Ustinov) and a half-sister to Listed Queensland Cup winner Nikau Spur (NZ) (Proisir), for NZ$60,000, and Lot 39, a colt out of Sorellina (NZ) (Pins), a full-sister to dual Guineas heroine Katie Lee (NZ) (Pins), for NZ$80,000.
Lot 39: Sword of State x Sorellina (NZ) colt | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“I do rate the Sword Of States. Talking to trainers and breakers, they all really like them. They have good natures and are willing workers,” Nicky White said.
“I’m really happy to get my top-pick filly and colt by the stallion here.
“The filly is very well related, being out of a stakes-winning mare who has also left a stakes winner in Nikau Spur. I thought she was good buying.
“The filly (Lot 39) is very well related, being out of a stakes-winning mare who has also left a stakes winner in Nikau Spur. I thought she was good buying.” - Nicky White
“The colt is a great type and has a bit of pedigree about him also, and it’s hard to get both for that price. He is a late October colt and has plenty of improvement in him. He has size, so could be a good one for January. If not, he looks ideal for the Ready to Run Sale.”
Nicky White | Image courtesy of Inglis
Top Vendors by Gross
| Waikato Stud Ltd | 12 | 2 | 9 | $704,500 | $78,278 |
| Haunui Farm | 17 | 1 | 11 | $625,000 | $56,818 |
| Hallmark Stud | 13 | 10 | $483,000 | $48,300 | |
| Seaton Park Ltd | 9 | 2 | 7 | $413,000 | $59,000 |
| Cambridge Stud | 11 | 1 | 8 | $239,000 | $29,875 |
| Curraghmore | 6 | 4 | $217,500 | $54,375 | |
| Brighthill Farm | 10 | 10 | $207,500 | $20,750 | |
| Highline Thoroughbreds | 5 | 2 | $195,000 | $97,500 | |
| Little Avondale Stud | 6 | 2 | 3 | $112,500 | $37,500 |
| Rich Hill Stud | 8 | 7 | $92,000 | $13,143 |
Top Vendors by Average
| Highline Thoroughbreds | 5 | 2 | $97,500 | $195,000 | |
| Waikato Stud Ltd | 12 | 2 | 9 | $78,278 | $704,500 |
| Seaton Park Ltd | 9 | 2 | 7 | $59,000 | $413,000 |
| Haunui Farm | 17 | 1 | 11 | $56,818 | $625,000 |
| Curraghmore | 6 | 4 | $54,375 | $217,500 | |
| Hallmark Stud | 13 | 10 | $48,300 | $483,000 | |
| Little Avondale Stud | 6 | 2 | 3 | $37,500 | $112,500 |
| Cambridge Stud | 11 | 1 | 8 | $29,875 | $239,000 |
| HGT Bloodstock Ltd | 4 | 1 | 3 | $27,167 | $81,500 |
| Brighthill Farm | 10 | 10 | $20,750 | $207,500 |
Top Sires by Gross
| Super Seth | 11 | 1 | 8 | $965,000 | $120,625 |
| Sword of State | 12 | 11 | $542,000 | $49,273 | |
| Chaldean (GB) | 2 | 2 | $305,000 | $152,500 | |
| Almanzor (Fr) | 11 | 9 | $234,500 | $26,056 | |
| Paddington (GB) | 3 | 2 | $204,000 | $102,000 | |
| Per Incanto (USA) | 6 | 3 | 2 | $170,000 | $85,000 |
| Mr Mozart | 6 | 6 | $143,500 | $23,917 | |
| Wrote (Ire) | 3 | 2 | $135,000 | $67,500 | |
| Ardrossan | 9 | 1 | 8 | $135,000 | $16,875 |
| Ace High | 6 | 4 | $101,000 | $25,250 |
Top Sires by Average
| Chaldean (GB) | 2 | 2 | $152,500 | $305,000 | |
| Super Seth | 11 | 1 | 8 | $120,625 | $965,000 |
| Paddington (GB) | 3 | 2 | $102,000 | $204,000 | |
| Per Incanto (USA) | 6 | 3 | 2 | $85,000 | $170,000 |
| Wrote (Ire) | 3 | 2 | $67,500 | $135,000 | |
| Sword of State | 12 | 11 | $49,273 | $542,000 | |
| Hilal | 3 | 2 | $33,000 | $66,000 | |
| Almanzor (Fr) | 11 | 9 | $26,056 | $234,500 | |
| Ace High | 6 | 4 | $25,250 | $101,000 | |
| Mr Mozart | 6 | 6 | $23,917 | $143,500 |
