Dates Confirmed for 2026 National Online Yearling Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

The dates for NZB’s National Online Yearling Sale have been confirmed for 2026, with the Sale set to be held on leading online auction platform Gavelhouse Plus. 

The catalogue will be available to view online from Tuesday 31 March, with bidding set to open on Friday 10 April and closing from 6pm (NZT) on Tuesday 14 April. 

A significant benefit of the digital catalogue is that all lots offered in the National Online Yearling Sale are eligible to be nominated for the lucrative Karaka Millions Series. 

Just nine short months after they make their virtual sale-ring debut, graduates of the online sale can compete for a share in the 2027 $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the 2028 $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), as well as the NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Series with $1m in bonuses up for grabs across 40 maiden races each season. 

Graduates of the relatively new sale have already had multiple successes on the racetrack, with 146 runners claiming 133 wins on the track. This includes the unbeaten and recent Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Well Written (Written Tycoon) and Group Two Eight Carat Classic winner Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish), both trained by Stephen Marsh. 

Bought by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for a sale-topping $80,000 from Brighthill Farm’s 2024 National Online Yearling Sale draft, Well Written has now had three starts for three super-impressive victories and leads the NZB Filly of the Year standings. 

Responsible for sourcing the Marsh Racing stars, Dylan Johnson praised the National Online Sale, a sale the team like to target.  

“The timing of this particular sale works well for us, and it gives horses that extra few months to develop from what they may have looked like in January. 

“Hitabell was always a standout physically for us and she has continued to develop and is now a stunning mare. She is a great advert for the value that can be found,” he added. 

“While she is by one of Australia’s best stallions, Well Written was a little less obvious. 

“I vividly remember her being quite backward and needing time. We’ve had a lot of luck with horses that needed time physically, but I don’t think we have ever bought a horse who has made that development as well as she has,” Johnson commented.  

Entries for the 2026 National Online Yearling Sale will open in February next year, with further details to follow. Following normal sale protocol, the National Online Yearling Sale will continue to be run under NZB Terms and Conditions. 

For more information about the Sale, contact NZB Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones on +64 27 274 4985 or email Kane.jones@nzb.co.nz. 

SALE SCHEDULE 

• Entries open: 24 February 
• Entries Close: 18 March 
• Sale Online: 31 March 
• Bidding Opens: 10 April 

View the full article