Weanlings feature in latest gavelhouse auction

Timing is everything for Phoebe Stud's Grant Beckett and this week is a big one for his Canterbury operation.

The boutique breeder, based at Broadfields near Christchurch, is currently offering seven weanlings for sale on standardbred.gavelhouse.com. They are all by his top sires Royal Aspirations and Imperial Count.

"As a sheep farmer it's about to get very busy with lambing so I have to move these weanlings on," Beckett says.

He's also keen to get one step ahead of the NZB Standardbred Weanling Sales at Karaka on Thursday, May 25, when more 120 lots will be up for sale.

"It's not worth my while to put my weanlings on a float to the North Island so I have to look at other opportunities."

"We have set what we think are very fair reserves," says Beckett, "and most of them are full brothers or sisters of horses that are in their preparations now."

He rates two colts by Aoraki and KD Spirit as the pick of his offerings.

"Seven is the most I've had in a while and there are six colts."

Beckett's decision to put the weanlings up for sale comes at a time when Royal Aspirations, in particular, has been highly sought after by breeders. He served 106 mares in the 2022-23 season. Beckett also has all ten of his resident mares currently in foal.

To see the gavelhouse auction, where there are 22 horses for sale, click here 

The auctions close from 7pm on Wednesday.