11 Large Drafts Underpin Quality NZB Weanling Selection

NZB’s National Weanling Sale on Monday will be underpinned by 11 drafts with double-figure entries, making up nearly two thirds of weanlings catalogued in the Sale.

In addition to a selection of offerings that feature a number of quality dispersals, the 11 drafts that have 10 or more weanlings catalogued in the Sale account for 184 of the 284 weanlings on offer.

The leading vendor for the past eight years has been Curraghmore Stud and Gordon Cunningham’s farm has a quality draft of 16 this year. A preview of Curraghmore Stud’s draft can be viewed here.

The largest draft in this year’s Sale comes from Little Avondale Stud with 27 weanlings catalogued with strong representation from their young resident sires Per Incanto (Street Cry) and Nadeem (Redoute’s Choice).

The highlights of the Little Avondale draft include:

• Lot 41 – A colt by Per Incanto out of a full-sister to Group 1 winner So Casual (Casual Lies).
• Lot 131 – A colt by Savabeel out of Group 2 placegetter Queen of Pop (Pins).
• Lot 160 – A filly by Nadeem out of two-year-old Listed placegetter Silk Spur (Rusty Spur).
• Lot 254 – A colt by Nadeem out of Listed placegetter Cent from Heaven (Centaine), the dam of Group 3 and Listed winner Eloa (Volksraad).

Windsor Park Stud has 23 weanlings catalogued in the Sale, predominately by its resident sires Guillotine, Falkirk, Mastercraftsman, Rip Van Winkle, Thewayyouare and Thorn Park. The stud’s draft includes:

• Lot 51 – A colt from the last crop of champion sire Thorn Park out of a five-time winning Pins mare Klassicpins.
• Lot 104 – A colt by leading first season sire Thewayyouare out of two-year-old performer Niniane (Casual Lies).
• Lot 145 – A colt by Rip Van Winkle out of Listed winner Roxon (Postponed).

This year’s leading vendor at NZB’s National Yearling Sales Series Waikato Stud has 22 weanlings entered in the Sale, all but two by Waikato Stud sires O’Reilly, Savabeel, Pins, No Excuse Needed, Rios and Fast ‘n’ Famous.

Highlights of their draft include:

• Lot 66 – A filly by Pins out of Listed winner Lookatmelads (College Chapel).
• Lot 162 – A colt by champion sire O’Reilly, a half-brother to this season’s Group 2 Australian performer Pinstripe Lane (Pins).
• Lot 195 – A filly by No Excuse Needed out of the Listed placed mare Top Spinner (Danasinga).
• Lot 230 – A colt by Rios, half-brother to Group 2 & 3 placegetter in the US Dahoud (Scaredee Cat).

Also with 22 weanlings catalogued in the Sale is Haunui Farm, heavily represented by their resident sires Iffraaj and Showcasing. Included in Haunui’s draft are:

• Lot 94 – A colt by Showcasing out of Group 2 placegetter Miss Elliot (Magic of Sydney).
• Lot 103 – A filly by Showcasing out of Listed placed mare Nancho Bella (Mr Nancho).
• Lot 165 – A filly by Iffraaj out of dual Group 3 placegetter Sokool(Bin Ajwaad).
• Lot 171 – A filly by Tavistock out of dual Group 1 placegetter Starina (Sir Tristram).

Brighthill Farm has 16 weanlings catalogued, five by their freshman sire Dalghar (Anabaa), along with weanlings by other first season sires Cape Blanco, Pour Moi and Jimmy Choux, and a good selection by proven sires. Their draft includes:

• Lot 73 – A colt by Dalghar out of Group 1 winner Macavelli Miss (Vettori), the dam of Dr Good Habit(Tale of the Cat) who ran fourth to Designs on Rome in the HK-1 Hong Kong Classic Cup.
• Lot 219 – A colt by Dalghar, half-brother to dual Group 3 winner Coup Bloomsbury (Centaine) and three stakes performers including Ididit (Ustinov).
• Lot 245 – A colt by Jimmy Choux out of a winning daughter of Group 1 winner Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch).
• Lot 265 – A colt by Cape Blanco out of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Sirmione (Encosta de Lago).

A draft of 14 weanlings from Rich Hill Stud includes strong representation by their resident sires Jimmy Choux, Shocking, Pentire and Any Suggestion. Among the draft is:

• Lot 12 – A colt by Pentire out of the winning Zabeel mare Foxy Cougar, the daughter of Group 3 winner Foxy Blonde(Volksraad).
• Lot 117 – A colt by Jimmy Choux out of a full sister to dual Group 2 winner and dual Group 1 performer Kerry O’Reilly (O’Reilly).
• Lot 250 – A colt by Group 1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking out of a full-sister to Group 1 Wellington Cup winner Envoy (Personal Escort).

Fairdale Stud from Palmerston North has a draft of 12 made up of nine weanlings by its sire Fully Fledged along with weanlings by Nom du Jeu, Iffraaj and Keeper, including:

• Lot 55 – A filly by Iffraaj out of Listed placegetter Lady Sakura (Jungle Pocket).
• Lot 153 – A filly by Fully Fledged out of Listed placegetter Set the Tempo (Pins).
• Lot 172 – A colt by Fully Fledged out of multiple stakes placegetter Star O’The Ball (Jetball).
• Lot 241 – A filly by Fully Fledged out of Group 2 runner-up Ballroom Lady (Oregon).

Fellow Palmerston North farm Goodwood Stud has a draft of 11 weanlings catalogued including:

• Lot 1 – A filly by Nom du Jeu, a half-sister to Listed placegetter Quick Time (Zabeel).
• Lot 59 – A filly by Fully Fledged, a half-sister to dual Listed winner Whoshe (Storm Creek).
• Lot 110 – A filly by Thewayyouare out of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Moss Downs.
• Lot 126 – A colt by Howbaddouwantit out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner The Hind (McGinty) and Listed winner Oregon Star (Oregon).

Matamata vendor Bradbury Park has a selection 10 weanlings by proven and exciting young sires. Included in their draft is:

• Lot 13 – A filly by Shocking, a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner Eight Street (Street Cry) and a half-sister to recent Listed Champagne Stakes winner Caduceus.
• Lot 77 – A colt by Alamosa out of a full-sister to Group 1 winner Hurrah (Bahhare) and Hong Kong stakes winner and Group 1 runner-up Carlisle Bay – Best Gift (H.K.) (Bahhare).
• Lot 211 – A colt by Swiss Ace out of a half-sister to Listed winner Sweet Dancer (Turbulent Dancer).

The Baker family’s Hallmark Stud has 10 weanlings catalogued, featuring both New Zealand and Australian sires, including:

• Lot 10 – A filly by Murtajill from a half-sister to current performer Fast ‘n’ Rocking (Fastnet Rock), a Group 2 winner who was Group 1 placed as a two-year-old.
• Lot 15 – A colt by Fast ‘n’ Famous out of a daughter of Group 1 winner Ardee One (Sharivari).
• Lot 283 – A filly by first season sire Zacinto out of a daughter of Group 2 winner For Love (Omincorp) and a half-sister to recent stakes performer Beyond Desire (Danzero).

Whilst these vendors make up nearly two-thirds of vendors with weanlings in the Sale, there are 70 vendors throughout the National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale on 12 & 13 May at Karaka. The first day of selling commences with the Weanling Session at 10am on Monday 12 May. The second day of the Sale (commencing at 10am Tuesday 13 May) features the Broodmare & mixed bloodstock sessions.

Catalogues can be requested from [email protected] or can be viewed online. For further Sale information visit www.nzb.co.nz.