Entries Open for the World’s Best Breeze Up Sale

Media Release - Friday July 5

Entries for NZB’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds are now open, with the Sale set to be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on 20 and 21 November.  

Unprecedented results were witnessed at the 2023 edition of the Sale, with the total aggregate increasing by 39% to over $35.1 million and no less than 12 lots that sold for $500,000 or more.  

Stakes-winning 2YO Megastar Heart topped last year's NZB Ready to Run Sale - image Grant courtney

NZB’s graduate success continues to confirm the status of the Sale as the best of its kind in the world, with Ready to Run Sale graduates claiming 29 Group One accolades, and 116 stakes wins in the last five seasons alone. 

The likes of Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’or), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote), Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood) are all known as graduates of the Sale, plus emerging stars like last year’s record sale topper Megastar Heart (Star Turn), Antino (NZ) (Redwood), Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributor)  and Eternal Flame (NZ) (Sacred Falls) to name a few. 

The ongoing success on the racetrack by graduates has seen an increased buyer demand globally at Karaka for two-year-olds prepared by New Zealand’s expert horsemen and women. 

As a result, the 2023 Sale turnover of more than $35.1 million was 235% more than the closest Australian competitor equivalent sale with only 157 more horses catalogued. The record average of $156,031 at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale was also a clear 37% more than the closest Australian competitor sale average. 

NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is looking forward to building on the incredible results seen at the 2023 edition of the Sale. 

“The 2023 Ready to Run Sale was just incredible, but we aren’t stopping there.”  

“It is consistently the best Sale of its kind for performance on the racetrack and results in the sale ring. 

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“The fact our Breeze Ups are held on turf, on one track only, over two consecutive days, gives buyers such an advantage when analysing data and videos. 

“Our preparers and horsepeople are some of the best anywhere in the world, and are a major influence on the achieved results on the racetrack and why many purchase a New Zealand-bred or sold two-year-old. 

“While Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand are our major focus, we also work closely with buyers in other emerging markets to ensure the best possible outcomes. 

“We look forward to welcoming back all of our international and domestic buyers to Karaka in November where bookings for the hotel are already close to full,” he added. 

This year’s Breeze Ups will take place on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October at Te Rapa where all horses catalogued have the opportunity to gallop prior to the entering the auction ring, whilst being timed and filmed for buyer analysis. 

To nominate your rising two-year-olds for NZB’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale, please visit NZB’s online portal at portal.nzb.co.nz. For entry enquiries, contact the Bloodstock Administrator Mary Jane Harvey (+64 9 298 0055 or email maryjane.harvey@nzb.co.nz). Entries close 5pm 2  August 2024. 

For any general sale enquiries, contact the NZB Bloodstock team here. 

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