Focus on vendors with single lots

Naturally larger vendors are attracting attention in the lead up to next week’s NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales at Karaka and Christchurch, but there are also vendors who offer just one yearling at the sales. Lets put the microscope on them.

Karaka

Lot 24 – Captain Crunch filly out of six win Art Major mare Simply Stunning (named Simply Sassy).

Prepared by: Adrienne Matthews

Pedigree notes:

• This filly is a half sister to three good winners – Simply Shaz (17 wins including the Group One WA Mares Classic), Always B Stunning (7 NZ wins and 9 USA wins) and Simply Sam (8 wins).
• Her pedigree runs deep and includes Dillion Dean (20) and Dillion Dale (17).
• She’s bred on the same cross as the promising Captain Tyron, the winner of three of his four starts for Robert and Jenna Dunn.

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  Preparers comments:

“Nothing bothers her but she is sassy and she’s been like that since she was a foal. She’s got a bit of attitude. She’s a really athletic filly and a great mover who loves coming in and doing her work. She actually reminds me a lot of Always B Stunning, is really correct, well put together and hasn’t grown out of proportion,” Matthews said.

Lot 29 – What The Hill filly out of unraced Monarchy mare Somebody To Love

Prepared by: Peter and Roslyn Brown

Pedigree notes:

• This filly’s second dam Love Hate Revenge is the dam of Majestic Man, the winner of twenty four races and $839,980. His three Group One wins were in Australia – the Dullard Trotters Cup, the TAB Trotting Grand Prix and the Aquagait Equine Mile.
• The filly’s full-brother Deep Love trained by Jarrod Alchin, ran third on debut at Menangle earlier this month.
• She is bred on the same cross as the very promising Youneverknow who won five of twelve starts last season and ran third in ‘The Ascent’.

Preparers comments:

“She’s been very easy to prep because she’s such a good doer. She’s quite a solid build and very easy to handle, her conformation is good and she looks like it’s not going to take her much to get up and going. The second dam is just amazing and the page is full of winners. This filly is an amazing trotter. She’s out with a pacer and she gets up and runs. He’s galloping along and she’s still trotting,” Roslyn said.

Lot 110 – Downbytheseaside filly out of unraced Bettor’s Delight mare Jay Girl (named Jackpot Jay).

Preparer: Tate Hopkins

Pedigree notes

• Second dam Gotta Go Harmony (Christian Cullen) from limited starts, won four races including the G1 Two Year Old Diamond. At stud she’s left a host of winners including Gotta Go Dali Queen the winner of eight and dam of rising star Kingman.
• She is bred on the same cross as Beside Me, Coastal Babe, Fugitive and Winelight.

Preparers comments:

“She’s a lovely filly. Probably a tad on the smaller side. Conformation and attitude wise you can’t fault her. She’s really nice to do anything with. Some of the Seasides can be tough early on, but with this filly you just show her once. She’s perfect. The bred can get up and run early and I think this filly has the potential to do that. Make sure you come and look at her (laughter),” Tate said.

Christchurch

Lot 156 – Always B Miki colt out of six win Rock N Roll Heaven mare Rock N Joy. (Named Rock N Miki)

Preparer: Chelsea Faithful (SBSR)

Pedigree notes:

• This is the family of Jumpingjackmac (21), Joyfulbelle(8), Jumpforjoy (7) and Joyfuljoy (16).
• Jumpingjackmac ran second in six Group One features -the WA Derby, the Four Year Old Classic, the Golden Nugget, the WA Pacing Cup (x 2) and the Freemantle Cup.
• Rock N Joy has left three horses of racing age. Her first foal Bettor Than Joy has won one of her ten starts while second foal Lets N Joy won her first four starts in Australia. The mare’s third foal All N Joy qualified as a yearling at Ashburton in December.

Preparers comment:

“He’s been nice to have around and not colty. He’s in a paddock three metres across from a filly and he doesn’t even look at her. He’s been a great eater. One thing that might put people off him is he’s quite a big horse but in saying that he’s quite well developed. Hopefully he’s done the majority of his growing now. He may make a late two year old but to me he looks like a three year old. If you look after him I’m sure he’ll repay you,” Chelsea said.

Lot 195 – Captaintreacherous filly out of the two win Bettor’s Delight mare The Morning Star.

Preparer: Jim and Sandi Curtin.

Pedigree notes:

• This filly’s second dam Star Of Venus won two races and time trailed in 1-53. She’s the dam of Self Assured, the winner of thirty races and $21.1 million. Self Assured Group One successes were in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, the NZ Pacing FFA (2), the NZ Messenger, the Easter Cup and the Auckland Cup (2). He also won the G1 Queensland Derby beating Lochinvar Art.
• This filly is bred on the same cross as the unbeaten Millwood Nike and twenty win pacer Hot And Treacherous.

Preparers comments:

“She’s good to catch and do most things with. She’s probably getting sick of all the handling but that’s how they get sometimes. You just have to break it (their routine) up a bit. This one’s a bit stronger looking than the one I took to the sales last years (Always B Miki). I just hope she turns out as good as Captains Mistress, that’s all (laughter),” Jim said.

Lot 277 – Art Major colt out of three win Christian Cullen mare Hayley Nicole (named Ninja Warrior)

Preparer: Bonni and Aaron Harrison – Kadali Farms (SBSR)

Pedigree notes:

• This colt was bought at the 2025 NZB Standardbred Weanlings Sales for $5,000. His dam Hayley Nicole won three races while his sire Art Major continues to do a grand job at stud. His colts include Merlin, Field Marshall, Isaiah and Titan Banner.

Preparers comments:

“He’s Art Major all over. He’s a big strong strapping lad and has been real easy to prep, loves his tucker and his time outside. He’s a classic colt and has a bit of attitude but he’s not nasty at all. Bonni my wife does all the work so in terms of getting him ready he’s in the best hands, that’s for sure. His name suits him and it looks as though he’ll run at two,” Aaron said.

Lot 310 – Sweet Lou colt out of unraced Somebeachsomewhere mare Maddisons Mate.

Preparer: Phil Cummings – Tuapeka Lodge (SBSR)

Pedigree notes:

• In America the Sweet Lou – Somebeachsomewhere cross has produced 109 foals, with 80 being winners. The major winners with the combined genetics are Pyro ($828,170), Geocentric ($738,877), Ammo ($707,639) and Sweet Beach Life ($517,280).
• This is a Tuapeka Lodge family with plenty of black type winners including Tango’s Delight (7), Lets Tango Lavros (31), Raindowne (5) and Six Diamonds (6).

Preparers comments:

“He’s got a bloody good attitude, a pretty cool dude and easy to do anything with. Anything you show him he picks up straight away. He’s not too big and not too small. He’s quite strong for his size, well formed up and is nice and straight,” Phil Cummings from Tuapeka Lodge said.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink