Age-Group accolades for NZB Standardbred stars

NZB Standardbred graduates claimed eight trophies during Saturday night’s NZB Standardbred-sponsored 2024 Harness Racing awards at Addington.

After a standout season on the track, Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) was a clear-cut winner of the Pacer of the Year, while also collecting the 4YO Pacing Entire or Gelding award.

Initially a $120,000 purchase by Montana Park at the 2021 National Yearling Sale from Broadfield Lodge’s draft, last season alone he had seven wins from 13 starts, highlighted by the $1m Race by Grins for total earnings of close to $800,000.

Purchased in the same year was Bet N Win (NZ) (What The Hill), who was awarded the 4YO Trotting Entire or Gelding of the Year.

David White outlaid $32,500 from Breckon Farms draft, and the gelding won five of six starts in 2024, headlined by the Group Three Canterbury Park Cup (2600m) and Group Three Ashburton Trotters Sprint (1700m) for total earnings last season of more than NZ$107,000.

Group One Auckland Trotting Cup (3200m) and Invercargill Cup (2700m) winner last season Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) was duly awarded the 5YO and Older Pacing Entire or Gelding of the Year.

The $210,000 yearling purchase by Kentuckiana’s Cran Dalgety was sourced from Price Bloodstock’s 2020 National Yearling Sale draft and continues to get better with age. Republican Party’s full brother (Lot 312) will be offered for auction on Tuesday 18 February at the Canterbury Agricultural Park.

The sensational Marketplace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) took out the 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding of the Year award after winning six of his 10 starts (two of them at Group One level) during his debut season, and earning more than $333,000 in stakes.

Purchased by Phill & Glenys Kennard for $100,000 at the 2023 National Yearling Sale from Barron Bloodstock, his full-sister (Lot 301) will be on offer at the 2025 edition of the Sale on 18 February.

Other age-group winners on the night included Meant To Be (NZ) (Father Patrick) in the 2YO Trotting Colts & Geldings, Chase A Dream (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) in the 3YO Pacing Colts & Geldings and Mantra Blue (NZ) (Sweet Lou) in the 4YO Pacing Mare of the Year.

Dam of Merlin and Captains Mistress (NZ) (Captaintreacherous), Imaginary Bet, was aptly awarded Broodmare of the Year. Her latest colt by Captaintreacherous (Lot 134) is set for sale at this year’s National Yearling Sale, on account of Laura Smith for breeders Taffy Ltd, who were also announced as the 2024 Breeders of the Year.

Taffy Ltd’s Todd and Fleur Anderson will offer a number of yearlings again at the 2025 National Yearling Sale, while the Trotting Stallion of the Year, Majestic Son, will be represented by six lots across the two sessions, and Pacing Stallion of the Year Captaintreacherous, will be represented by 26 lots.

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