New Zealand Bloodstock is excited to announce the offering of 20 quality weanlings as a part of the supplementary catalogue for its 2022 National Weanling Sale, set to be held on 17 June at the Karaka Sales Centre.

In addition to the 111 weanlings catalogued, the 20 additional lots will be offered immediately before Lot 1, with the Sale commencing at its original start time of 11AM (NZT).

The youngsters making up the supplementary catalogue derive from renowned Matamata nursery Valachi Downs, who have chosen to bolster NZB’s weanling offering for reduction purposes as a result of selling the home farm.

General Manager Gareth Downey commented on the quality offering of their weanlings set to go under the hammer at Karaka next month.

“Given the sale, we are at the beginning of a series of dispersal sales of Valachi stock. We will be selling all of our horses eventually, beginning with this quality offering of weanlings we are taking to Karaka.”

“We have 40 weanlings to sell in total but for preparation purposes, we are bringing the first crop to Karaka, with the remaining 20 being sold online at a later date.

“There are no weanlings being retained as it is a full dispersal sale and a great opportunity for buyers to secure a high calibre of stock, with all weanlings being offered unreserved,” he said.

The line up features weanlings by an assortment of proven, emerging and first season stallions with the likes of Almanzor, Savabeel, Ten Sovereigns, Turn Me Loose, U S Navy Flag and War Decree being represented. 

“It is unusual for us to be offering what we consider to be all of our best horses,” Downey said.

“We plan to bring our upper end stock to Karaka, with each weanling having already begun its preparation, handling and rearing through the Valachi system.

“The whole draft offers a range of very nice types highlighted by Valachi sires U S Navy Flag and Ten Sovereigns because at that stage we were heavily focussed on breeding our own mares to them.

“Since Karaka 2022, U S Navy Flag has kicked off his siring career with a dream start in the Northern Hemisphere. He has already produced three winners, including Love Reigns who scored a nine-length victory on debut in America and is on track to go to Royal Ascot.”

“Our freshman sire Ten Sovereigns is a very lovely horse himself with plenty of size and scope about him. He has left a line of very attractive horses. We are pleased with the quality and he has certainly stamped them in his mould.”

Reflecting on the sale of the Valachi Downs property, Downey found it bittersweet to be physically offering the final crop of Valachi stock at NZB’s iconic Karaka Sales Centre.

“This will be the last physical sale for Valachi Downs and the last ever draft that we will offer at the Karaka Sales Centre.”

“This is a draft we would have been very happy to bring to Karaka in January as yearlings. But, that’s not to be, and while it’s disappointing for the team, it will present some excellent buying opportunities for purchasers.”

“Of course it is emotional for everyone involved but we are delighted to be ending on a quality note and wishing our buyers every success,” he said.

All weanlings offered through the National Weanling Sale at Karaka are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Million Series. Graduates can compete for a share in the $1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) and the $110,000 CollinsonForex Karaka Cup (2200m) for the remainder of their careers.

All Valachi Downs weanlings entered in the Sale will be available for inspections on-site at Karaka Sales Centre, with NZB and NZ-based agents available to inspect on behalf of buyers.

For more information contact NZB Bloodstock Executive Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz or Regan Donnison on +64 21 512 466 or email regan.donnison@nzb.co.nz.

View the full supplementary catalogue online here.