Two American colts to go under hammer

Trent and Kristie Mason are heading to the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales at Karaka next week with two quality colts.

“They’re still very much developing so it’s just going to be about understanding their strengths at the stage they’re at. It might be slightly harder to create an image in your head when they’re in the mix of all the other yearlings that are a lot older. I think a good judge will see through that,” preparer Jamie Bartlett said.

The Tall Dark Stranger colt (Lot 15) is out of Rodeo Beach, a race winning Somebeachsomewhere mare who is a full-sister to $1.7 million pacer and successful sire Huntsville, while the Huntsville colt (Lot 51) is out of Virginontherocks, (Always A Virgin – Artstopper) making her a full sister to Always B Miki.

“You can tell the Virginontherocks is going to be a big horse and he’s got a lot of growing to do. At this stage we’re pretty happy with how he’s progressed through prep.”

Both colts were born in New Zealand – the Tall Dark Stranger in February and the Huntsville in April.

“When I got them they hadn’t long come off the mares and it’s been a bit of a challenge to get rugs on them and get feed into them. It’s about letting them do it at their own pace and not rushing them too much.”

The Masons currently live on a three acre property in North Auckland but have recently purchased a 40 acre bare block of land just down the road where they plan to build a high quality purpose built horse facility.

The plan is to have ten mares to breed from and there’s an expectation there’ll be a solid source of young stock to take to the sales.

“I think what Trent and Kristie are doing is excellent for the industry. I think people will be surprisingly impressed with both the colts because they’re not much smaller than the other colts even though they’re lot younger.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink