Cover image courtesy of Carlaw Park
For the last decade, Nick Fairweather and Nicole Brown have developed Carlaw Park into a brand respected at the Karaka sales complex - and further afield - and in October, they will take the operation to the next level when relocating to Parkvale Farm on the outskirts of Matamata.
The historic property minutes from the Matamata racecourse has previously been the base of operations for Valachi Downs and New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jim Gibbs, and provided too good of an opportunity to pass up for the couple, who have every intention of upholding its reputation.
“It's got a great history of producing top racehorses and it’s located right in the heart of New Zealand’s racing and breeding industry,” said Fairweather. “It was a really good fit for us in so many ways, and now everything has fallen into place for us. It’s exciting - it’s a challenge, but exciting nonetheless.”
Good foundations, great results
Fairweather and Brown formed Carlaw Park in 2016 with the assistance of Brown’s parents Peter and Roslyn, and they took their first draft of six yearlings to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2018. Fast forward eight years, and the team prepared a far larger draft for the nation’s premier yearling sale, achieving the top price for a yearling by first season sire Profondo with a NZ$425,000 filly.
Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) signed the docket for the half-sister to G1 Thorndon Mile winner Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), who was bred by long-time friends and clients who also bred dual Group 1 winner First Five (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
“We're really fortunate to have a really good client base,” said Fairweather. “There are quite a few small-scale breeders who support us by allowing us to prepare their yearlings. Getting results like what we achieved with that filly is what inspires us to further the brand and continue improving the business.
“Getting results like what we achieved with that (Profondo x Songbird) filly is what inspires us to further the brand and continue improving the business.” - Nick Fairweather
Nick Fairweather | Image courtesy of Carlaw Park
“When you're lucky enough to get quality stock, such as the horses that Dane and Jenna (McLeod) produce, that just makes it all worthwhile. Getting results for people like them is what gives us purpose.”
It was the highest price Carlaw Park had achieved in the Karaka sales ring to date, matched only by the $625,000 achieved for a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) in 2025 when the team ventured to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The 2026 Karaka sale was also a triumphant one for the pinhooking side of the business; Fairweather and Brown achieved one of their best results to date when selecting a filly by Ghaiyyath (Ire) and preparing her to sell for for NZ$360,000 to Henry Dwyer, Hurworth Bloodstock, and Glentree Thoroughbreds.
“We have had some great success pinhooking over the last six or seven years in particular,” Fairweather said. “These results don’t come round very often, but when you hand-select these horses yourselves and then turn them over for that sort of money to a good home, you get to feel very proud.”
The successes at Karaka this year were further contributors to the brand’s image, and also - importantly - was a driver behind the team’s confidence in taking up the opportunity at Parkvale Farm.
Ghaiyyath (Ire) x Champagne Lucy filly | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“Why not keep doing it, but on a slightly larger scale and try to maintain that professionalism and quality throughout?,” Fairweather said.
Fairweather was quick to single out someone who had assisted the Carlaw Park team in making a definitive move on Parkvale Farm.
“Marcus Corban was a significant player in finding the right fit and the right farm for us,” he said. “He's been a mentor of mine since my time at Cambridge, and he has been instrumental in probably all of our business development to date.”
“Marcus Corban was a significant player in finding the right fit and the right farm for us.” - Nick Fairweather
It wouldn’t be possible either without the support of a loyal client base.
Marcus Corban | Image courtesy of Cambridge Stud
“We also have to thank John and Jan Cassin, who raced La Crique,” Fairweather said. “They have been our clients since day dot, and they are very business-minded and savvy. They played a massive role in us acquiring the farm. We are so thankful for their support.”
Keeping your mentors close
The new property signals an expansion rather than a redirection, and that also applies to how Fairweather and Brown have approached the horses they select to sell for themselves. Fairweather shared that while the weanling market was quite a tough environment at the moment, this had allowed the couple to begin to invest further into breeding.
“We were looking at different methods to keep our drafts strong, and investing in young mares in foal to commercial stallions is very appealing,” Fairweather said. “Both of us were brought up in the breeding side of the business, and Nicole is very engaged with that aspect.”
Peter Brown & Nicole Brown | Image courtesy of Carlaw Park
In combination with Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA), Carlaw Park signed the docket for Aunt Roberta (Pierro) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, paying $135,000. The winning daughter of Group 3 winner, Group 1-performed Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur) was offered in foal to Home Affairs and is closely related to New Zealand Horse Of The Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
On Inglis Digital, they purchased Proud Katie (NZ) (US Navy Flag {USA}) - in foal to Private Life - for $30,000, and the connection to her pedigree hits a little closer to home.
“She’s from one of Sir Patrick Hogan’s good families, and actually she is a half-sister to Public Attention, who is possibly our best graduate so far,” said Fairweather.
Three-time Group 3 winner Public Attention (Written Tycoon) was a graduate of Carlaw Park’s 2023 Karaka draft, knocked down to Tom Magnier for NZ$160,000, and is a grandson of New Zealand Champion 3YO Katie Lee (NZ) (Pins).
Public Attention | Image courtesy of Sportpix
As Carlaw Park sought to build its reputation, Sir Patrick Hogan often entrusted the operation with a handful of yearlings to sell, and to have another mare on the farm from a pedigree he has developed means his influence never feels far away.
“One of our foundation mares who has been very good to us, Bad Habits, is one that we bought from Sir Patrick through our own yearling draft,” Fairweather said. “She’s been marvellous for us with what her progeny have achieved in the sales ring, both in New Zealand and Australia.
“When we bought her, he said, ‘watch this family because it's such a good fillies family. You'll find that the fillies will just keep coming out in black-type’. And sure enough, there's been, I think, two Group 1 winners and six immediate stakes winners in that family since we bought the filly. He was spot on and that all happened after he passed away.”
“When we bought her (Bad Habits), he (Sir Hogan) said, ‘watch this family because it's such a good fillies family. You'll find that the fillies will just keep coming out in black-type’.” - Nick Fairweather
Sir Patrick Hogan | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Out of Lady Dehere (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), a half to champion sprinter Sea Siren (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), Bad Habits (NZ) (Power {GB}) boasts an enviable page, with her sisters producing the likes of G1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and electric juvenile Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State). Her first foal Perfect Habit (NZ) (Tivaci) was twice a winner last season and ran fourth in the Listed Southland Guineas.
The wisdom Sir Hogan shared with Fairweather and Brown continues to assist their operations on the daily.
“He was meticulous,” said Fairweather. “He was a perfectionist and everything was done to the utmost standard. We still employ a lot of his techniques and routines with our yearlings - they worked for him so well, so you don't change something that's broken.”
A bigger, better future
An all-weather training track, expanded stabling, and more facilities set on a 41-hectare property gives Carlaw Park plenty to be excited about for the future. When they move into the new farm within the coming weeks, the emphasis remains on providing the same standard of care.
“We will continue to focus on the things we do well, spelling horses and preparing yearlings for major Australasian sales,” Fairweather said. “It is very much business as usual as we get started, but we also have some new ideas in the pipeline for what we can offer our loyal clients and supporters.”
Carlaw Park sales team | Image courtesy of Carlaw Park
“We will continue to focus on the things we do well, spelling horses and preparing yearlings for major Australasian sales.” - Nick Fairweather
And while a high price tag is a great achievement in the sales ring, it is what the horses do with the foundations received at Carlaw Park that matter even more. One of the sales graduates that has Fairweather particularly excited is the Profondo filly out of Bad Habits, who sold for NZ$150,000 at this year’s Karaka sale to Ballymore Stables.
“She's with Pam Gerard at Ballymore, she's done her early education work as a 2-year-old, and she's shown quite a lot of ability from her short time in at the stables so far,” Fairweather said.
“For Pam (Gerard) to give a horse such a rap in their educational preparation, that's pretty big.” - Nick Fairweather
Profondo x Bad Habits (NZ) filly | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“She’s really impressed. For Pam to give a horse such a rap in their educational preparation, that's pretty big.”
