Demand for Weanlings Soars in New Zealand National Sale

Business was up during the weanling portion of New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd.'s national weanling, broodmare, and mixed bloodstock sale. During a select session Sunday and a general session Monday at Karaka, 281 weanlings were sold for a gross of NZ$2,974,600 (approximately $1,836,161 in U.S. funds), an average of NZ$10,635 ($6,565), and a median of NZ$5,000 ($3,086). The clearance rate was 81%. Last year's figures were 243 sold for a gross of NZ$1,386,400, an average of NZ$5,705, and a median of NZ$2,600. Last year's clearance rate also was 81%.

"The great results in the select weanling session seem to have had a flow on effect to the general weanling session, with a significant increase in the combined average weanling price from last year showing a great improvement in the strength of this market overall," said Petrea Vela, the New Zealand Bloodstock marketing and public relations manager. "It seems we have now firmly established a real market in New Zealand for quality weanlings, which is very encouraging for the future of this sale."

A daughter of Stravinsky out of the Sackford mare Smile brought the top price of NZ$145,000 ($89,506), selling during the select session. Another daughter of Stravinsky, this one out of the Volksraad mare Voice, brought the second-highest price of NZ$90,000 ($55,555) during the select session.