Champion stallions in demand at National Weanling Sale

From proven champions to emerging stars, NZB Standardbred’s 2022 National Weanling Sale catalogue is littered with progeny by the most sought after sires of the breeding and harness racing industry.

Astute bloodstock investors will be spoilt for choice, with a 114-strong Sale of quality youngsters set to go under the hammer at the Karaka Sales Centre next week on Thursday, 26 May.

The stellar lineup of pacing and trotting stallions represented includes in-demand sires whose progeny have dominated on Australasian racetracks in recent months.

Always B Miki (USA)

The rising star of Australasian siring ranks, Always B Miki, has sired six lots in NZB Standardbred’s 2022 National Weanling Sale catalogue.

The equal world record holder of the fastest pacing mile in history has been kicking goals on and off the track recently.

Group One Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Series Final (1980m) winner Franco Indie (NZ) and Group Two Nevele R Stud/Macca Lodge Southland Oaks (2700m) star Aardie’s Express (NZ) have led a wave of success the stallion’s progeny have scored in recent months.

Always B Miki’s stock look to present outstanding pinhooking opportunities, given the sire produced an average of $56,483 across the 40 lots that were sold at NZB Standardbred’s National Yearling Sale in Auckland and Christchurch earlier this year.

Alabar (NZ) will present each of the Always B Miki weanlings on offer by their resident sire.

Among them are five fillies, each from broodmares by leading broodmare sires including Thirsty Thursday (NZ) (Art Major), Annie Morva (NZ) (Mach Three), Ava Rose (NZ) (Art Major), Cougar Bromac (NZ) (Art Major), Delightful Lover (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight). Also presented is a colt out of Cyathea (NZ) (Fake Left) in Lot 48.

Bettors Delight (USA)

Buyers will have the chance to purchase progeny by the undisputed champion of Australasia’s siring ranks at the upcoming National Standardbred Weanling Sale.

Having been crowned Champion sire in both New Zealand and Australia for the last decade,  Bettors Delight has become a household name in the industry, needing no introduction to bloodstock buyers or harness racing enthusiasts.

Bettor’s Delight is coming off another season of total domination by his stock on New Zealand’s racetracks.

NZB Standardbred graduates and multiple Group One winners, Akuta (NZ), True Fantasy (NZ) and Krug (NZ), were among the star progeny of Bettor’s Delight, winning their categories at the NZB Airfreight New Zealand Harness Racing Awards for the 2021 season.

Woodlands Stud, who has stood Bettor’s Delight in New Zealand throughout his glittering career, will offer two fillies by the star sire at the 2022 National Standardbred Weanling Sale.

• Lot 5 is a filly out of Turbulent Flow (NZ) (American Ideal), and is a close relative of multiple Group One winner Partyon (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).
• Lot 52 is from Galleons Supreme (NZ) (Christian Cullen), making her a full sister to six-time Group One winner and Champion filly Spanish Armada (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

Art Major (USA)

Year after year, Art Major continues to produce stock that contests the biggest two and three-year-old pacing races across Australasia.

The last time the star sire’s stock entered the Karaka sale ring, they sold for an impressive average of $59,154 at the 2022 Auckland National Yearling Sale.

With that kind of demand for Art Major’s stock, lucrative pinhooking opportunities will await buyers with Alabar (NZ) consigning 15 of his progeny at the National Standardbred Weanling Sale.

• Lot 1 is set to kick off the 2022 National Weanling Sale in style. Alabar will offer an Art Major filly from Take A Bet (NZ) (Mach Three), who is closely related to Group One performer and NZB Standardbred graduate Off N Gone (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere).
• Lot 10, a colt out of stakes race performer Trigirl Brigade (NZ) (Mach Three). The colt is a half-brother to New Zealand open class star and multiple stakes race winner Classie Brigade (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).
• Bred on the same Art Major x Mach Three cross, Lot 13 is a close relative of Classie Brigade, out of Tristar Brigade (NZ) (Mach Three).
• Lot 59 also has plenty of black type on her pedigree page. The Art Major filly from Fellamongstabeauty (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) is a close relative of six-time Group One winner Elle Mac (Bettor’s Delight).

Sweet Lou (USA)

Sweet Lou is another stallion whose stock was highly sought after at the 2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale. Yearlings by the classy sire sold at a very healthy average of $36,667 when offered at Karaka earlier this year.

Sweet Lou has enjoyed brilliant success on the track recently, headed by the deeds of his star son Spirit Of St Louis (NZ).

There are 15 Sweet Lou weanlings offered by Woodlands Stud at this year’s National Standardbred Weanling Sale.

• Among them is Lot 40, a colt from Czyani(NZ), a full brother to recent Addington winner Mitsi Gaynor (NZ) (Sweet Lou).
• Another colt with a star pedigree is Lot 9, by Sweet Lou out of Victor Ideal (NZ) (American Ideal). This weanling is from the family of star Group-winning mares Utmost Delight (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and her dam Victor Supreme (NZ) (Placid Victor).
• Lot 97 is among the standout Sweet Lou fillies in the National Weanling Sale. Out of Queen Camille (NZ) (Christian Cullen), this Lot is a half-sister to Group Two winner Henry Hubert (NZ) who has earned more than $350,000 during his outstanding New Zealand career.

What The Hill (CAN)

Excitement is imminent, as the progeny of What The Hill descend upon New Zealand’s racetracks.

The stallion was a star racehorse himself, winning $US1,200,000 in stakes and being crowned USA’s Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year during his brilliant career.

What The Hill’s oldest progeny in New Zealand are just two-years-old but have already impressed trainers with strong performances on the trials track.

Woodlands Stud will offer 14 What The Hill weanlings at the National Weanling Sale at Karaka next week.

• Among them is a close relation to brilliant Group One winner Majestic Man (NZ) (Majestic Son). Lot 29 is a filly from Bet Pray Love (NZ) (Sundon), whose dam is a half-sister to classy runner Majestic Man.
• Lot 41 is a colt from Della’s Spur (NZ) (Pegasus Spur) who is a full sister to nine-time Group One winner and promising first season sire Speeding Spur (NZ) (Pegasus Spur).

Also featured in the catalogue are progeny by American Ideal (USA) (3), Downbytheseaside (USA) (15), Majestic Son (CAN) (6), Rock N Roll Heaven (USA) (2), Sportswriter (USA) (1), Ultimate Machete (NZ) (2) and Vincent (AUS) (6).

All weanlings purchased at the 2022 National Weanling Sale at Karaka are eligible to be nominated 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.

Weanlings entered in the Sale will be available for inspections on-site at the Karaka Sales Centre, with NZB agents available to inspect on behalf of buyers.

Buyers wishing to physically attend the Sale and stay on-site at New Zealand Bloodstock’s newly established DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel can book their accommodation here.

Phone and online bidding is another welcomed option for buyers who cannot physically attend the Sale. Register for online bidding here.

View the full 2022 National Standardbred Weanling Sale catalogue online here.

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

From NZB Standardbred