Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Entries are now open for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2026 Ready to Run Sale of 2-year-olds, with strong market confidence following a successful New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale, a successful edition of last years New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale and sustained racetrack success from graduates.
Entries have officially opened for New Zealand Bloodstock's 2026 Ready to Run Sale of 2-year-olds, which will be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on November 18 and 19.
Ahead of the sale, this year's Breeze Ups are scheduled for 12 and 13 October at Te Rapa, giving buyers the opportunity to assess the 2-year-olds before they head through the ring.
The opening of entries follows another encouraging result for New Zealand Bloodstock, with the 2026 National Weanling Sale producing significant gains across all key metrics at Karaka just weeks ago.
Strong demand underpinned the sale, which generated an aggregate of NZ$3,593,000 for the 102 weanlings sold, an increase of 49% on 2025.
The compact 114-lot catalogue, following withdrawals, returned an average of NZ$35,255, up 23% on last year, while the clearance rate reached an impressive 89%. Nine lots sold for NZ$100,000 or more, compared with four in 2025, with buyers participating from Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong and Japan.
The Ready to Run Sale has also continued to deliver on the racetrack, with graduates recording 33 Group 1 victories and 115 stakes wins over the past five seasons.
This season alone, graduates have combined for 26 black-type victories through the likes of Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Patch of Stars (All Too Hard) and Single Choice (Anders), while emerging performers such as Listed Hong Kong Derby winner Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) have continued to add to the Sale's reputation.
The strong racetrack performances have been reflected in the sale ring, with New Zealand Bloodstock recording three consecutive record-breaking editions of the Ready to Run Sale. In 2025, the sale reached a record aggregate of NZ$41.4 million, alongside record average and median prices of NZ$156,255 and NZ$100,000 respectively.
Andrew Seabrook | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Highlighting that sustained growth, NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook said the Sale had continued to build momentum in recent years.
"This Sale continues to reach new heights on the racetrack and in the sale ring, with three consecutive record-breaking editions.
"This Sale continues to reach new heights on the racetrack and in the sale ring, with three consecutive record-breaking editions." - Andrew Seabrook
"The results in the ring have grown rapidly year-on-year, with the aggregate rising 74% over seven years - from NZ$23.8 million in 2019 to NZ$41.4 million in 2025."
Seabrook said attracting a broad international buying bench remained central to those results.
"These results are driven by our commitment to ensuring the strongest buying bench from Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, China and beyond are all in attendance and bidding."
Entries for the 2026 Ready to Run Sale close at 5pm on Friday, 31 July. To enter your rising 2-year-olds for the 2026 Ready to Run Sale, visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz. For portal enquiries, contact NZB’s Bloodstock Administrator Mary Jane Harvey (+64 9 298 0055 or email maryjane.harvey@nzb.co.nz).
