Late Flurry at National Standardbred Weanling Sale

- By Michael Guerin

NZB Standardbred saved the best for last at their National Weanling Sale hosted as a physical auction at Karaka on Monday 3 May. 

The equal two top lots of $36,000 each inside the final 15 minutes of a busy day capped a successful sale for the industry.

An Art Major filly out of Matuvutu (NZ) (New York Motoring) sold to Beaufine Park and a Bettors Delight colt from five-race winner No Liability (NZ) (Christian Cullen) purchased by Robert Dunn shared the honours for the day as lots 124 and 130 of the 130-lot catalogue.

They didn’t win that title by much with a Bettors Delight (ex Queen Camille) sister to Henry Hubert (NZ) (Lot 8) going for $33,000 early in the day to Trent Yesberg, while there were three other lots of $30,000 or above including the Father Patrick (ex Con Grazia) filly, who was the sale-topping trotter at $30,000.

While many of the top lots were purchased by New Zealand trainers there was strong Australian interest, particularly from Team Bond in West Australia and Tumby Park in NSW (headed by Scott Whitton), best known for their successful string of horses carrying “Ultimate” in their name.

Australian-based Dean Shannon from Montana Park made use of the trans-Tasman bubble, flying over to purchase three weanlings from Karaka, highlighted by the $28,000 purchase in an Always B Miki filly (Lot 93) out of Franconia (NZ) (Art Major)

Weanlings being weanlings and the pinhooking market is nowhere as developed or lucrative in harness racing as it is for thoroughbred racing, the sale was solid and left NZB Director and Operations Manager James Jennings happy.

“The average is up, clearance was exceptional and it was a hard day for the pinhookers because the nice lots went for good money,” said Jennings.

Especially pleasing for NZB Standardbred was so much activity on their online bidding platform, much obviously from Australia, which shows how comfortable buyers have become with purchasing digitally.

“That was great but it was also really good to see some of our Australian friends here and we can’t wait to welcome more back for the yearling sales next year,” said Jennings.