Trotters dominate Christchurch Sales

The trotters took a fair share of the limelight at today’s NZB Standardbred Sales in Christchurch.

The Walner – Egee Money filly presented by Yabby Dam Farms and prepared by Laura Smith topped the Sale and was purchased by Stonewall Stud for $290,000.

“NZB have done a great job and Laura Smith has prepared her beautifully. I’m over the moon. I’d like to thank Stonewall Stud who bought her and Barry Purdon bought one and Jim Connelly bought another one. It’s really fantastic that these guys are supporting the market,” Yabby Dam Farms principal Pat O’Driscoll said.

NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray commented that NZB Standardbred feels  extremely lucky to have trotting stock of this quality at their Sales.

“You look at the residual value of her. The fact is that we just can’t get that sort of stallion in this part of the world so we really do thank Pat for favouring us,” Bray said.

Phil and Bev Williamson’s Ardgowan Lodge in Oamaru had a great Sale, selling both their homebred yearling trotters for $110,000 each.

The Volstead – Our Golden Kenny went to Jim Connelly of Kyvalley Racing in Victoria.

“We were hoping for around the $100,000 with him. Getting $110,000 made us exceptionally happy. He had a bit going for him being out of the Kenny breed,” Phil said.

The second colt by Timoko out of Dwindle Mist, will head to Stonewall.

“He was a little bit of a surprise. While she (Dwindle Mist) has left a Group One winner, it wasn’t as strong a family as the Kenny family. He certainly put his hand up on type and paraded beautifully. In the last month he started to go ahead more and more.”

After a relatively quiet Auckland sale, Stonewall Stud were strong at Christchurch, purchasing thirteen yearlings for a total of $1,355,000. Five of those were trotters costing $545,000.

Their total spend over the two Sales was slightly up on their 2025 spend.

Australian owner Mick Boots attended both days and bought a number of yearlings – three of which he’s entrusted with Woodend Beach trainer Bob Butt.

“I picked out three colts for the whole sale – up north and down here and I was very lucky to get all three of them,” Butt said.

The three are the Captaintreacherous colt out of Adore Me purchased in Auckland, and the Bettor’s Delight – Supersonic Miss colt and the Captaintreacherous – Delight Me colt which were part of the Christchurch catalogue.

“He’s (Supersonic Miss colt) a lovely colt. A bit finer and racier than the other ones (from the mare). This fella looks like he’ll get up and go. I thought he (the Delight Me colt) might go for more than that. When he came into the ring, he was a beauty,” Butt said.

Southland trainer Nathan Williamson will train three of the Boots owned yearlings; the Captaintreacherous – Dina Brown filly, the Captaintreacherous – Elle Mac colt and the full brother to Captains Mistress.

“I think with the metrics, we’d have to be pretty happy,” Cam Bray said when wrapping up the day.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink

For a summary of today’s sale –CLICK HERE