The thoroughbred and standardbred communities will converge on Karaka for the National Weanling Sale and National Standardbred Weanling Sale on Thursday 26 June, and vendor Ross McKay has horses in both catalogues.
McKay’s Leanach Lodge will feature prominently in the thoroughbred section, which will run from 10am to 2.30pm, while he also has a couple of well-credentialled standardbred weanlings to take through the ring later in the afternoon.
“I think the dual-code idea is a good thing,” McKay said. “What any sale really needs is bums on seats, whether it’s participants, observers or people from the cross-code band. People create a bit of atmosphere, and a successful sale can flow from that.
“It makes sense logistically for NZB – they don’t have to set up the facilities twice, and there’s ample room across the grounds for all of these horses to be presented on the same day.
“I know there’s at least one guy who’s keen to have a challenge among the thoroughbred preparers, so there could be some positive effects to come from it.
“Change is change. If it’s for the right reasons, change can be a good thing.
“There’s plenty of potential benefits and no real negatives that I can see, other than the slight extra challenge for me – simultaneously presenting two standardbred weanlings in one part of the complex and seven thoroughbred weanlings in another part. But that’s not insurmountable and I’m looking forward to it.”
McKay has a special family connection to one of his standardbred weanlings – the filly catalogued as Lot 1012, who descends from the Group One winners Chiola’s Lass (NZ) (Chiola Hanover) and Allegro Agitato (NZ) (Sundon).
“She’s a beautiful filly from a family that I’ve had a long association with,” McKay said. “My father raced the third dam Chiola’s Lass, who was a 2YO and 3YO Trotter of the Year, and she threw the absolutely top-class mare Allegro Agitato. Another of her progeny was Skyvalley (NZ) (Muscles Yankee), who went on to become a notable sire.
“So it’s very cool to be involved with a descendant of this family. Chiola’s Lass is one of my first memories as a young kid. It’s a great line of horses and I’m sure this filly will sell well.
“Both of these weanlings actually weren’t originally intended for sale, but it’s come about through some unfortunate circumstances with an owner being unwell. They would have retained these horses themselves otherwise. So it’s a rare opportunity for someone – and especially with this filly, who’s a good type and has real residual value.
“I’ve already had a number of phone calls with early enquiries about her, including someone who’s keen to fly up from the South Island to have a look at her a week before the sale. So there’s certainly plenty of interest in her and I’m excited to see her go through the ring.
“The gelding (Lot 1036) is interesting too. He’s progressing extremely well and is another very nice type.”
On the thoroughbred side, Leanach Lodge will offer weanlings by Sword Of State, Hello Youmzain, Noverre (NZ), Staphanos, Sweynesse and Santos.
“It’s good to be back at this sale with a quality draft,” McKay said. “We always like to offer something at this sale. We missed it last year, just because of where we were with some of our own stock that season.
“We’re happy to be presenting weanlings again in 2025, and I think we’re heading into it with a draft that should have a bit of interest for both pinhookers and end users.
“I’m pretty keen on Sword Of State and Hello Youmzain. Hello Youmzain is doing the job on the track, especially over the last few weeks. He’s gone to the top of the first-season sire standings and his horses are showing some very good ability.
“Sword Of State is a stallion that I’ve been really taken with over the years, just seeing his foals and watching how they’re growing.
“I actually bred three fillies by Sword Of State in this crop, but it’s hard to present three fillies by the same sire against each other in a sale. One of them is really nice and forward, so we’ll take her to the Weanling Sale and put her on the market there (Lot 43). we can save the others until they're yearlings,"
“We’ve also got a really nice Sweynesse filly (Lot 106) who’s beautifully bred, being a full-sister to the Group Three winner Bonita Aurelia (NZ) (Sweynesse). And there’s a couple by Santos, which are nice types too, along with Staphanos and Noverre.
“Noverre is in a similar boat as Sword Of State. I haven’t had as many of his progeny myself, but they seem to be lovely types and have been well received as yearlings this season.”
All weanlings offered are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete for a share in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) as well as the new $1m Mega Maiden Series comprising of 40 non-Saturday maiden races located throughout New Zealand.
Buyers wishing to attend are able to book their stays at the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel onsite here or by emailing travel@nzb.co.nz for assistance.
View the catalogue here. The catalogue can also be viewed on the Equineline app for iPads/tablets, or the Thoroughworks mobile app.
For more information, contact Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email kane.jones@nzb.co.nz, Sales Representative Patrick Cunningham on +64 21 512 466 or Patrick.Cunningham@nzb.co.nz or Andrew Buick at +64 27 555 0640 or email Andrew.Buick@nzb.co.nz.
