Almanzor Pinhook Tops NZB Weanling Sale

The highlight lot of the 2021 NZB National Weanling session was secured by Hallmark Stud’s Mark Baker, who purchased Lot 78, an Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) colt out of Group 3-winning mare Girl of My Dreams (NZ) (Gold Centre) for $145,000. Baker purchased the colt out of Haunui Farm’s draft with the intention of bringing him back to NZB’s 2022 National Yearling Sale. The second highest weanling purchase was secured by another renowned pinhooker in Sam Beatson, who secured Lot 104 (Per Incanto-Mandalong Belle, by Choisir) from Curraghmore’s draft for $110,000.  Leading purchaser by aggregate for the session was bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo, who purchased four weanlings outright averaging $42,000 for a total turnover of $168,000. Meanwhile, leading consignor by aggregate was Haunui Farm, which sold 15 weanlings for a total turnover of $339,500 and averaged $22,633. Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore was the leading consignor by average and second leading consigner by aggregate, after selling six weanlings for an average for $52,500, totalling $315,000. Almanzor was the leading sire by average (three-plus sold) with seven averaging $58,500. Leading first season sire by average (three-plus sold) was Rich Hill Stud’s resident sire Ace High (High Chaparral), whose seven weanlings were purchased for an average of $20,143.