Weanling Sale Buzz Building Ahead of 2025 Draft

- By Brad Reid (Breeding Matters)

Cam Bray isn’t one to overplay a hand. But as the 2025 NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale approaches, the Head of Standardbred at New Zealand Bloodstock carries a quiet confidence in his voice—and for good reason.

"Going into it, I'm quietly confident," says Bray. "What’s been really interesting is the added exposure from running the sale alongside the thoroughbreds. We've actually had a fair bit of interest from the thoroughbred code, which is a positive and somewhat unexpected byproduct."

While this dual-code approach hasn't been tried in earnest since a Christchurch sale years ago, Bray is encouraged by fresh interest from pinhookers in the galloping game. Still, he’s pragmatic about where the bulk of the buying power will lie.

"I think we’ll be relying more on our domestic buying bench. The tailwind from Australia isn’t any stronger than it was at the yearling sales, but I genuinely believe the opportunities in New Zealand have never been greater."

Bray is the first to acknowledge it hasn't always been smooth sailing for the weanling sale, but its trajectory is undeniable.

"You look at the results. It really has become a hotbed of opportunity. There are horses out of the sale winning in three or four continents now. And when you consider the size of the catalogue and compare that to the number of group winners it’s produced, it’s arguably one of the most productive sales of its kind anywhere."

Indeed, a quick glance at the numbers reinforces his point.

Over the last four years, the NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale has punched above its weight. The 2022 sale topped out with an aggregate of $1.43 million, an average of $14,490, and a healthy 91% clearance rate. That year, Lot 92—a Captain Crunch filly from Princess Arts—topped the sale at $55,000.

In 2023, the average dipped to $11,880, and by 2024 it was down again to $9,161. But Bray isn't reading too much into those numbers.

"It's still a really strong clearance rate. We were at 86% in 2023 and 87% in 2024. That tells you buyers are still confident. And from what we’ve seen this year, the catalogue is shaping up to offer serious variety and value."

"Look at Alabar and Woodlands," he continues. "Their averages over the past few years have grown exponentially. They go straight from the yearling sale prep into weanlings. That tells you the sale is now a core part of their commercial planning."

And it’s not just established operations making moves. Bray highlights Macca Lodge’s decision to offer their first Perfect Sting weanlings as evidence of wider vendor confidence.

"That’s a smart play. It gives them a read on the market, and for buyers, it’s a first look at a new sireline that’s already doing the job in North America."

He says the 2025 sale is also notable for its diversity.

"There’s a really healthy balance this year. Whether you’re looking for a race-to-breed filly, a pinhook, or an end-use colt to race yourself, you’ll find it. I had a client tell me yesterday that on percentage, this might be the biggest crop of trotting weanlings we’ve had."

That, says Bray, couldn’t be more timely.

"There’s been real investment in the trotting gait in the last five or six years. And what we’re seeing now is the early fruits of that. There are trotting sires represented right across the board, and for pinhookers or young trainers, there are some very smart types in the mix."

He also points to the strength of certain female families in the catalogue.

"There are fillies from families like Mainland Banner and Under Cover Lover in this sale. Those are opportunities that don’t come around often. For commercial breeders looking to bring in fresh blood, that’s gold."

And underpinning it all is a growing sense of accessibility. Thanks to initiatives like the Next Gen Bonus Scheme, Bray says the barriers to entry are lower than ever.

"Next Gen created real buzz around the yearling sale, but what it also did was bring in new people at the weanling level. Some thought they had to be involved in the buying process to qualify, so we saw a number of syndicates form with first-time participants. Even though they technically didn’t need to buy, it brought them into the environment. That’s a win."

He says NZB has tracked around an estimated 3.5% increase in new ownerships tied to the scheme—proof that momentum is building.

So who stands out in 2025?

"You know me, Brad—I like them all," Bray chuckles. "But there’s something for everyone. There are some of the best trotting genetics in the world in this catalogue, and plenty of top-end pacing pedigrees too. Much like a race, there's a winner in every draft—you’ve just got to be the one to find it."

As always, Bray will be on the rostrum, calling alongside fellow auctioneers Mike Kneebone and Steve Davis. With both standardbred and thoroughbred books on the same day, it promises to be a marathon session.

"We’ll probably have 240 horses to get through, but I think it's going to be a great event. Mixing the codes has added a real sense of occasion, and I think the crossover can only be a positive."

And for Bray, few venues compare to Karaka.

"I’ve sold at a number of venues around Australasia, but Karaka is the best by some margin. The vendors are great, the buyers are enthusiastic, and the vibe is always upbeat. It’s less high-pressure than the yearling sale, but still a really sharp commercial environment."

As the countdown to the 2025 sale continues, one thing is clear: the appetite for quality, affordability, and opportunity is alive and well in the weanling market. And with a draft as diverse and dynamic as this, that hammer can’t fall soon enough.

- By Brad Reid