SBSR – Mark these down

Southern Bred Southland Reared will take a record seventy harness racing yearlings to this years NZB Standardbred New Zealand National Standardbred Yearling Sale in Christchurch, being held on 20th, 21st and 22nd February.

SBSR Chairperson Mark Smith gives a sampling of yearlings that represent the quality of this year’s SBSR draft. The yearlings he’s chosen come from families who are very current with progeny or close relatives performing well on the track. 

“The SBSR Draft has got a bit of everything, Bettor’s Delight, Sweet Lou and Art Major and a sprinkling of new sires like Captain Crunch and Downbytheseaside,” Smith said.

Lot 208 – The Highwayman (Fear The Dragon colt out of Asajah).

This colt is closely related to rising star Catch A Wave (Captaintreacherous) which has won thirteen of his nineteen starts in Australia. His wins include the Group One Breeders Crown Final for two year old colts and geldings, the Group One Vic Gold Bullion for three year old colts and geldings, and the Group One Vic Bred Super Series Final for three year old colts and geldings. He’s won $433,870. This is the only Fear The Dragon colt at the sale.

“He’s a very nice colt and another one from our draft that’s related to a horse that’s winning in Australia.”

Lot 237-Malakai (Captain Crunch colt out of Chieko)

This colt’s second dam Sakura (Christian Cullen) is the mother of three foals to race for three winners including Diego (Bettor’s Delight). He’s been a real star in recent weeks, winning the $450,000 Group One WA Pacing Cup at Gloucester Park to add to his Group Two JP Stratton Cup win at the same venue. 

“He’s an outstanding looking horse and I think the Captain Crunches will be sought after at the Sale. I think he’ll attract a lot of interest from West Australian buyers.”

Chieko’s other two progeny to race are Mister Bushido (Bettor’s Delight) the winner of thirteen and The Bachelor (Art Major) which has won fifteen. This colt is from the same family as Foreal (Washington VC) which won eighteen races including the Group One Great Northern Oaks and Group One New South Wales Oaks. 

Lot 240 – Fabulous Dream (Bettor’s Delight filly out of Christian Dreamer).

This filly is a full sister to Amazing Dream (Bettor’s Delight) the multiple Group One winning mare which won twenty six races and $1,654,005. Christian Dreamer has also left Chase The Dream (Bettor’s Delight) which won twenty four races and earned $567,507.

“We’re very fortunate to be preparing her. She’s owned by Vin and Daphne Devery who need no introduction and nor does this family. This filly is compact and looks as though she will run early like most of the family.”

Beyond racing, Fabulous Dream has great residual breeding value. Smith says Michael House and Steve Stockman have already had a look at this filly.

Lot 359 – Worldly Arden (Captaintreacherous filly out of Real Wings)

This filly is by the in vogue stallion Captaintreacherous. Real Wings (Badlands Hanover) has left four foals to race, three have been winners including Arden’s Reality, (Somebeachsomewhere) the winner of seven races. Worldly Arden has Group winners in Ideal Scott (American Ideal), Ultimate Sniper (Bettor’s Delight) and Ultimate Machete (Bettor’s Delight) in his pedigree.

“If you look through the results from either Melton or Menangle you’ll see that Captaintreacherous is doing a great job and he’s just cleaning up in some of the big races.” 

Lot 377-Roslyn Shard (Always B Miki filly out of Shards Of Myross)

Roslyn Shard is a half-sister to Himself (Sportswriter). He recently won the $200,000 Group One Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park and has won nine of his fifteen starts in Australia.

“Since he’s (Himself) gone to Perth he’s just grown another leg and he’s just about been in the money every start.”

This filly’s second dam She’s Mighty (New York Motoring) had eight foals to race and seven were winners including Mighty Cullen (Christian Cullen) which won seven races in New Zealand and a further forty three in America and paced a mile in 1-50.4. She’s Mighty also left Likmesiah (Christian Cullen) which won thirteen races and Mister Presley (Rocknroll Hanover) which sixteen races.

Lot 385 – Bay colt (Bettor’s Delight colt out of Surprise Party)

Surprise Party (Christian Cullen) has left three foals to race. Repartee (Well Said) the winner of nine races, Stag Party (Bettor’s Delight) six wins and Yankee Party (American Ideal) five wins. This is the family of Democrat Party (American Ideal) which won $254,690 and is the dam of two rising pacing stars Republican Party and Advance Party. Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) won the Group Three Hondo Gratton Stakes at Menangle last weekend to add to his excellent New Zealand record.

Advance Party (Bettor’s Delight) won once last season. She ran a 1-53.9 mile rate and was placed in the Group One Caduceus Club Classic.

“The Party family is a great family and very current.”

Lot 391-Lightning Tara (Bettor’s Delight colt out of Tara Tutaia)

Tara Tutaia (Somebeachsomewhere) won two races and is a half-sister to Stingray Tara (Bettor’s Delight) and Tiger Tara (Bettor’s Delight). Tiger Tara won thirteen races in New Zealand including the Group One New Zealand Free For All, Group One Northern Derby and Group One New Zealand Sires Stakes Three Year Old Final. He won a further twenty four races in Australia including a Group One Interdominion Grand Final, Group One Hunter Cup and Group One Victoria Cup. 

“This colt has got a great cross being by Bettor’s Delight out of a Somebeachsomewhere mare. He’s big and strong and a fantastic looking horse.”

Potential buyers of horses in the SBSR draft will be on the group annual bus tour this Monday and Tuesday which is booked out.

“Once again, we’ve got a bus full of buyers mainly from Auckland and Christchurch. We’ve also sent out invites to all the locals so there may be up to 50 others following the tour over the two days.”

Smith says there are some new faces on the tour this year. Vaughan Blanchard, Steven Reid, Ben Waldron, Robert Courtney, Steve Dolan and Darren Keast are among them.

The SBSR Tour itinerary is:

Monday 13th February 

• 12.45pm Murray Little – 145 Pitt Rd, Otatara
• 1.40pm Denario / Steve Baucke – 24 Auburn Road, Invercargill
• 2.45pm Price Bloodstock – 230 Gap Road West, Winton
• 3.30pm White Stables – 41 Substation Road, Winton
• 4.45pm C Faithful / T Proctor / M Caig – 49 Racecourse Rd, Winton
• 5.40pm Beaudiene Breeding – 662 Gladfield Rd, Otautau including ‘The Sweet Lou Talk & Fork Dinner’.

Tuesday 14th February 

• 8.30am Macca Lodge – 56 Main Wendonside Rd, Riversdale
• 10.20am Arden Lodge / R Neville – 117 Boundary St, Tapanui
• 12.30pm Shard Farm – 131 Myross Rd, Invercargill

To view the full 2023 catalogue, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink