Abundance of trotting talent featured in weanling catalogue

Proven trotting stallions and sires on the rise fill the catalogue confirmed for the 2024 NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale at Karaka on May 23.

Champion producers Majestic Son (USA) and What the Hill (USA) are set to command competition in the Karaka sales ring, with strong drafts from the two stallions among the 108 lots to be offered.

Progeny of emerging sires Elite Stride (USA) and Speeding Spur will be on offer, while first-season sire Zenith Stride (USA) is also represented in the National Weanling Sale.

Majestic Son (CAN)

Majestic Son has established himself as a trotting siring powerhouse with his dominance of the Australian and New Zealand trotting sires’ premierships in the past decade. From star two-year-olds to the brightest of open-class stars, Majestic Son leaves quality trotters that compete at the highest level.

Oscar Bonavena (NZ) (Majestic Son), Sundees Son (NZ) (Majestic Son) and Sunnys Sister (NZ) (Majestic Son) have been among the latest of the sire’s stars on New Zealand racetracks.

• Lot 13 is a colt from the family of the stakes race performer Galleons Sunset (NZ) (Sundon).
• Lot 48 is also a colt closely related to two-time NZB Standardbred Harness Million winner Highgrove (NZ) (Love You).

What The Hill (CAN)

What The Hill was a speeding sensation during his racing career in North America before making an immediate impact in his siring career in Australasia. Bet N Win (NZ), Lovemeto (NZ), Luby Lill (NZ), and Kiss N Run (NZ) have propelled the sire into the spotlight with their outstanding performances.

Among the catalogue are twelve youngsters by What the Hill, set to be offered in the Karaka sales ring.

• Lot 33 is a filly closely related to the strong performer Flying Isa (NZ) (Pegasus Spur).
• Lot 70 is a colt by the sire, who is a close relation of recently retired trotting star Majestic Man (NZ) (Majestic Son).
• Lot 94 is a filly from the family of excellent trotting mares Enthusiast (NZ) (Chiola Hanover) and Inspire (NZ) (Chiola Hanover).

Zenith Stride (USA)

Promising trotting sire Zenith Stride will make his sales ring debut at the 2024 National Weanling Sale. The beautifully bred stallion was an outstanding performer in North America while he also has a pedigree packed with millionaire trotters. Zenith Stride himself was a US$350,000 yearling, further showing what an impressive individual, he is. Alabar will offer three weanlings by Zenith Stride at the National Weanling Sale.

• Lot 3 is by Zenith Stride from a family filled with black-type performers including Adella’s Dash (NZ) (Sundon) and Glenferrie Burn (AUS) (Muscle Hill).
• Lot 50 is a filly by Zenith Stride, closely related to the good winners Musculus (NZ) (Muscle Mass) and Speedy Gonzalez (NZ) (Britewell).
• Lot 106 is a colt by Zenith Stride closely related to the Group One winners Glenferrie Typhoon (NZ) (Majestic Son) and Cyclone U Bolt (NZ) Dream Vacation.

All weanlings purchased at the 2024 National Weanling Sale at Karaka are eligible to be entered for NZB Standardbred’s lucrative Harness Million Sales Race Series. The Series consists of principal two-year-old and three-year-old races for colts and geldings, fillies, and trotters individually, where NZB Standardbred graduates can contest for their share in a one-million-dollar prize pool.

View the full catalogue and highlights on www.nzbstandardbred.co.nz. Selling takes place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 12 pm (NZT) on Thursday 23 May.

For more information about the Sale contact NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray by calling +64 21 737 199 or email Cam.Bray@nzb.co.nz.

From NZB Standardbred