Demand for young bloodstock remained firmly in place on Wednesday evening as NZB’s 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock delivered more than $800,000 in turnover from 104 catalogued lots, extending the momentum generated by this year’s major yearling sales season.
The brisk digital session produced lively competition from domestic and international buyers alike, with interest flowing in from Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand. For breeders and vendors, it was another encouraging sign that appetite for well-related yearlings remains healthy despite a rapidly changing sales environment.
The headline act arrived early when Lot 18, a filly by Sword of State out of the Savabeel mare Sade, made $70,000 to Japanese buyer Golden Orchid Brothers Inc. Offered by Curraghmore, she set the benchmark for the evening and underlined the global reach of the online marketplace.
Curraghmore enjoyed another notable result shortly afterwards when Lot 29, a filly by Satono Aladdin, was secured for $55,000 by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock.
Curraghmore principal Gordon Cunningham said the draft had been presented with confidence and was well received by buyers.
He noted that inspection levels at the farm had been strong, with genuine overseas enquiries adding to competitive bidding throughout the session. Cunningham also felt several purchasers had secured value and thanked those who participated in the sale.
The second-highest price of the evening came when Lot 34, a colt by Zousain from Highden Park, was bought for $63,000 by Hong Kong Bloodstock, further reflecting the broad spread of demand across the catalogue.
NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones praised the resilience shown by vendors and buyers after an earlier cyber attack forced the sale to be delayed by one day.
He said it was pleasing to see the momentum from Karaka 2026 carry into the online session, with notable rises across aggregate, average and median returns. Jones added that the strength of the catalogue and the carry-over confidence from the summer market had helped produce a successful evening.
A key attraction remains eligibility for the Karaka Millions Series, which continues to add considerable appeal for buyers targeting future racetrack rewards. Graduates from the sale can be nominated for the rich juvenile and three-year-old features, as well as the NZB Mega Maiden Series.
The success of the online auction also arrives just as attention turns to the next major fixture on the calendar, with entries for the 2026 National Weanling Sale closing on Thursday. Scheduled for Karaka on 25 June, that sale offers vendors another opportunity to showcase young stock to both domestic and overseas buyers.
Recent graduates of NZB weanling sales include stakes performers and top-level winners such as Jedibeel, Pivotal Ten, Sir Albert, Pignan, Callsign Mav and Jennifer Eccles, further strengthening confidence in the pathway from sale ring to racecourse.
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