Southern Bred Southern Reared – The back story

For over a decade, harness racing yearlings produced out of Southland, Otago or Central Otago under the Southern Bred Southern Reared banner have been amongst the sale toppers at the annual standardbred yearling sales in Christchurch.

With the sales fast approaching, it’s time to look back on the legacy that is SBSR and the success the southern group has had over the years.

The honours board goes back to Tuapeka Mariner, which sold for $250,000 in 2008.

Since then, there’s been Titanium ($170,000) in 2013, Beaudiene Beaufighter in 2014, Bollinger, which sold for $200,000 in 2015, Mach Shard $200,000 in 2016, and Chicago Cub for $190,000 in 2017.

In later years the trend has continued with The Shard selling for $170,000 in 2019, Beaudiene Bigtime for $170,000 also in 2019, Moet Shard $280,000 and Republican Party for $210,000 in 2020.

In 2021 John and Katrina Price had a stunning sale selling their Bettor’s Delight – Hartofdixie colt for $320,000 and a Bettor’s Delight – Chicago Blues colt for $310,000 the top two lots of that year.

Last year Built For Glory (Bettor’s Delight – Fight For Glory) was the Christchurch Sale topper selling to Stonewall Stud for $260,000 so the run of success has been amazing.

SBSR was a concept that was initially talked about by the late Doug Stiven of Tapanui and Dave Kennedy of Bayswater and it was in 2002 that Dave Kennedy, Mark O’Connor, Debbie Smith and John Stiven formed the inaugural committee.

“The reason why we got SBSR going was to get Southerners working together to raise the profile of the product at the sales.” Stiven told me in a previous interview about SBSR.

Dave Kennedy says the tour of the Southern yearlings prior to sale day has been a big part of the success story.

“The SBSR tour is the best thing we’ve ever done there’s no doubt about that. You get the main buyers arriving on your doorstep. They see your place and see what you’ve done and what your horses look like.”

This year SBSR have seventy yearlings entered in the sale. Twelve trotters and fifty-nine pacers and once again expectations are high that the SBSR brand will be well represented at the top end of results.

With a full sister to Amazing Dream and a host of other well-bred yearlings the chances are high.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink