World leading trotting genetics boost National Yearling Sale

Visitors to the Karaka and Christchurch sale grounds every February are met by the yearling progeny of a diverse and high-quality range of harness racing sires, and the 2025 National Yearling Sale will be no different.

A stunning line up of proven squaregaiting stallions is set to offer bloodstock investors access to the trotting world’s best genetics on February 15 and 18, from proven to emerging and first season stallions.

Father Patrick (USA)

Already a proven star, Father Patrick again confirmed his ability to produce brilliant youngsters when recently winning his third consecutive New Zealand two-year-old trotting sires’ premiership.

NZB Standardbred graduates Meant To Be (NZ), Paramount Kiwi (NZ),and Ya Rite Darl (NZ), are just some of the key contributors with their sire’s great success in recent seasons.

• Among Father Patrick’s stellar 2025 draft is Lot 325, a well-bred full brother to the talented Father Time (NZ).
• Lot 249 is a colt from the family of Group One winners Sun Of Anarchy (NZ) (Sundon) and Pocaro (NZ) (Sundon).
• Lot 329 is a close relation to the multiple stakes winner Gus (NZ) (Majestic Son).

Majestic Son (CAN)

The king of the trotting stallion ranks continued his domination of Australasia’s siring tables in 2024. At the completion of the racing season, Majestic Son was crowned champion sire in Australia for the ninth time, while being confirmed as New Zealand’s leading trotting sire for the seventh time.

Brilliant performers Oscar Bonavena (NZ) and Sunnys Sisters (NZ) have followed in the footsteps of Sundees Son (NZ) and Majestic Man (NZ) to continue their sire’s dominance recently.

Majestic Son’s small yet elite offering includes:

• Lot 295, a half-sister to Group One winner Renezmae (NZ) (The Pres).
• Lot 324 is a full sister to multiple Group One winner Stress Factor (NZ) and Group One placegetter Prince Fearless (NZ)

Bold Eagle (FR)

Bold Eagle was such a generational talent on Europe racetracks and his name sits alongside the greatest trotters of all time.  During his stunning career, the stallion won 46 of his 75 starts banking €5,000,000 in earnings and taking a lifetime mark of 1:49.2.

By the champion sire Ready Cash (FR) from a Love You mare (FR), the brilliant trotter has been quick to make an outstanding impact at stud. Nine Bold Eagle yearlings will be offered in 2025 with five to go through the Karaka sales ring and a further four youngsters to be offered in Christchurch.

• Bold Eagle’s stellar line up includes Lot 60, the first colt from the stakes-performing mare Tailored Elegance (NZ) (Muscle Hill).
• Also from the Breckon Farms draft is Lot 65, the first colt from the Group One winner Tickle Me Pink (NZ) (Muscle Hill).

What The Hill (USA)

What The Hill’s star status has only risen since he first came to New Zealand shores in 2019 following the completion of his million-dollar racing career.

NZB Standardbred graduates Bet N Win (NZ) Lovemeto (NZ) and Luby Lill (NZ) have led the way as their sire has established himself in the top echelon of Australasian trotting stallions. Nine What The Hill yearlings will be offered at Karaka with a further four to be offered at Christchurch.

• Among What The Hill’s strong offering is Lot 23, a half-brother to the Group One winning mares Tickle Me Pink (NZ) (Muscle Hill) and Luby Lou (NZ) (Muscle Hill).
• Lot 55 is the first foal of 14-race winning mare She Reigns (NZ) (Monarchy).
• Lot 265 is a filly from the family of recent Group One winner One More Moment (NZ) (Majestic Son).

Tactical Landing (USA)

The stallion was a US$800,000 yearling before going on to produce outstanding results on the racetrack and then making his mark in the breeding barn.

Stamping his class among his early crops, Tactical Landing has produced millionaires Karl (USA) and Tactical Approach (USA)  who have starred on North American racetracks.

• Tactical Landing’s offerings includes Lot 17, a half-brother to Group One winning NZB Standardbred graduates Kyvalley Hotspur (NZ) (Muscle Hill) and Lovemeto (NZ) (What The Hill).
• Lot 185 is from a sister to the brilliant multiple Group One winning trotting mare Queen Elida (NZ) (Love You).
• Lot 271 is from a daughter of the 2022 New Zealand Trotting Broodmare Of The Year, Habibti (NZ) (Love You).

On A Streak (USA)

On A Streak has received strong support from breeders since making his way Down Under in 2022 and his progeny are now ready to debut in the New Zealand sale rings.

The stallion kicked off his career with a string of dominant performances in North America, ultimately winning the 2020 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Trotting Final. On A Streak’s oldest progeny in Australasia are yearlings and there is a total of six youngsters to go under the hammer.

• Lot 144 – A colt from the family of multiple Group One winning trotting mare Im Ready Jet (AUS) (Quaker Jet).
• Lot 262 – A filly from the family of Group One winning trotter Wilma’s Mate (NZ) (Pegasus Spur).
• Lot 270 – A filly from the multiple stakes race performer Ayra (NZ) (Angus Hall).

Face Time Bourbon (FR)

French-bred stallion Facetime Bourbon will make his National Yearling Sale debut in the best possible style at Auckland. The sire has banked more than €3,300,000 during his stunning race track career in which he won a staggering 17 Group One wins.

Face Time Bourbon has just two yearlings in Australasia, including the brilliantly bred Lot 106. The colt is from the three-time Group One winning mare Dance Craze (AUS) (Muscle Hill), a daughter of the champion mare La Coocaracha (NZ) (Safely Kept).
All horses purchased at the Sale are eligible for NZB Standardbred’s lucrative Harness Million Sales Race Series. The Series consists of principal two-year-old and three-year-old races for colts and geldings, fillies and trotters individually, where NZB Standardbred graduates can contest for their share in a one million dollar prizepool.

The Auckland session takes place on Saturday 15 February at Karaka with selling from 1pm (NZT). The official parade at Karaka will now take place at the earlier time of 10am on Friday 14 February at the request of major vendors. Inspections at Christchurch take place on Sunday 16 & Monday 17 February at Canterbury Agricultural Park while selling begins on Tuesday 18 February from 11am (NZT).

From NZB Standardbred