Current stakes performing thoroughbred families are always at a premium and New Zealand Bloodstock's Broodmare session at next week's Weanling & Broodmare Sale is set to offer mares from some of Australasia's hottest families.

With the Sydney Autumn Carnival and a number of stakes races run in New Zealand and Asia in the last few weeks, a number of horses have made significant updates to their pedigrees, with some of these black-type additions featuring among the 248 broodmares on offer.

It's a rare opportunity to secure a member of one of the world's best performing families but Waikato Stud will be offering that with their Rory's Jester mare McHappy at Lot 567.

A blue-blooded mare, McHappy is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Scandinavia (Snippets), dam of Group 1 winner Magnus (Flying Spur) and Group 2 winner Wilander (Exceed and Excel). She is also the dam of Helsinge who has produced the outstanding champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and exciting youngster All Too Hard (Casino Prince).

McHappy has already shown her potential as a broodmare as the dam of the three-year-old filly Glad (Pins). A promising winner of two of her seven starts, Glad produced a big finish after a tough run to take third in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic at her last start on 31 March behind the smart Malandrino (Darci Brahma).

Waikato Stud will also offer the Group performed mare Active (Kinjite) at Lot 434. The mare is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Zanetta (Centaine) and Fabaz (O'Reilly), the dam of the exciting four-year-old Nandowra (Savabeel) who won his first stakes race, the Sgp-3 Moonbeam Vase, since the catalogue went to print.

Active has been served by Paco Boy, the GB Champion Older Miler who started stud duties in New Zealand last season.

Amongst Trelawney Stud's nine entries are six broodmares, including Knocknacrea (Green Desert), a close relation to another rising turf star in Pierro (Lonhro), at Lot 542. Since the catalogue went to print, Pierro has won all three legs of Australia's Two-Year-Old Triple Crown, the Golden Slipper, Sires' Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes. Knocknacrea has been served by Keeper.

Purchasing Group 1 winning mares is a rarity at auction but the May Sale will be offering the Group 1 WATC Derby winner Honor Lap (Honor Grades) at Lot 525, the dam of the Group 3 placed Honor Net (Hussonet).

Other highlights in the Broodmare session include:

Group 2 winning mares Belmont Cat (Felix the Cat) (Lot 461) and Highflying (Entrepreneur) (Lot 524) who have been served by O'Reilly and Savabeel respectively.

Group 2 winner Scarlett Runner (Kingdom Bay), dam of the Sgp-3 (now Sgp-1) Singapore Guineas winner Onceuponatime (Van Nistelrooy). She has been served by Iffraaj.

Stakes winning mare Scarlett Vanhara (Van Nistelrooy) who has been served by Savabeel. The Zabeel line has proven successful with the family having produced the Derby winner Zonda (Zabeel).

Group 3 placed mare So Divine, a sister to the dual Group 1 winner and sire Monaco Consul (High Chaparral). She is a daughter of the Star Way mare Argante, a sister to Sgp-1 winner Con Air and half-sister to Group 1 winner Military Plume (Sir Tristram).

Covering sires also include Alamosa, Bel Esprit, Darci Brahma, Keeper, Mastercraftsman, O'Reilly, Pentire, Pins, Sir Percy, and Thorn Park.

The session also offers buyers an opportunity to secure mares served in the first book of young sires including Makfi, Paco Boy, Per Incanto, Rip Van Winkle, Shamoline Warrior, Shocking and Showcasing.

A number of vendors will this year be offering their stock on an unreserved basis, giving buyers an additional boost of confidence in the ring. Amongst them are Northfields Stud's Unreserved Deplenishing Sale which will offer mares by Flying Spur, More Than Ready, Royal Academy and Zabeel, and The Oaks Stud who will be offering 12 mares for unreserved sale.