Nick Fairweather and Nicole Brown sold their first Book 1 draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale 12 months ago and have another quality top-end consignment to present when business gets underway at Karaka next Sunday.
They are based on the outskirts of Cambridge at Carlaw Park, an operation which takes its name from the Auckland stadium that primarily hosted rugby league, up to Test match level, before its closure in the early 2000s.
“Nicole’s grandmother’s partner Des White is one of New Zealand’s immortal rugby league players. On my side my Dad played at Carlaw Park,” Fairweather said.
“When we were thinking of a name it seemed to be really appropriate for us.” – Nick Fairweather.
“When we were thinking of a name it seemed to be really appropriate for us.
Nick Fairweather and Nicole Brown
“The property is owned by Nicole’s parents Peter and Roslyn Brown and we’re the front people of the business, which leases the property back off them. We’ve got 60 acres on Kaipaki Road toward the Ohaupo end.
“The guy that owned it before was into standardbreds and had post and railed it all so a lot of it was done when we walked in.
“We’re in full swing and it’s a perfect set-up, ideal for preparing yearlings.” – Nick Fairweather.
“There’s 20 colt yards set up since then we’ve built a 12-box barn. We’re in full swing and it’s a perfect set-up, ideal for preparing yearlings.”
Peter and Roslyn Brown with Nicole and Nick
That was always the couple’s goals and it came to fruition sooner than they had expected.
“We always wanted to do it, but we thought we would have to wait three or four years to get established and we would specialise in spelling racehorses.
“In the first year we got offered some nice horses to prepare so we decided to take the plunge and it worked out really well.” – Nick Fairweather.
“We wanted to do things really well and yearlings were on our list. In the first year we got offered some nice horses to prepare so we decided to take the plunge and it worked out really well.”
Carlaw Park is the perfect set up for preparing yearlings
At Karaka 2018, Carlaw Park offered four yearlings with a top price of NZ$130,000 for an Ocean Park (NZ) filly who caught the eye of Darren Weir.
“We’ve got 10 in Book 1 and we strictly only want to do Book 1 yearlings,” Fairweather said.
“We’ve built up some good relationships from previous jobs we’ve been in and we’ve got two for Sir Patrick Hogan.
“Marcus Corban has always been a big help and been influential in getting Sir Patrick on board.” – Nick Fairweather.
“Marcus Corban has always been a big help and been influential in getting Sir Patrick on board. I also used to work for him for several years so we’re in a very fortunate position.
“We’re also doing one for Lindsay de Souza and one for Maryanne and George Simon. We’re pretty lucky.
“Nicole and I pinhook weanlings as well, we’ve done that for the last five or six years and had some good success.”
Fairweather said they could have taken a larger draft to Karaka, but were adamant keeping numbers small was their selling point.
“We can put more effort into them with that number and we’ve always said that’s the maximum.” – Nick Fairweather.
“We can put more effort into them with that number and we’ve always said that’s the maximum.
Lot 443 Tavistock (NZ) x Stylish Bell (AUS)
“They are a terrific lineup and I don’t think anyone would have any qualms when I say the Tavistock out of Stylish Bel (Lot 443), a half-brother to Beauty Generation, is a stand-out. He’s owned by Peter Woods, Donna Logan’s husband.
“There’s a three-quarter brother (Lot 124) to Turn Me Loose and the Dundeel colt (Lot 358) is a stand-out on type.”
Fairweather said the market was a difficult one to forecast.
“It’s going to be very interesting and I don’t think anyone could say they were confident heading in. The Ready to Run Sale was very tough and Magics went through the roof.
“We’re lucky to be in our second year selling at Book 1 again and we just want to be seen as a boutique establishment with the focus on quality.”
