Day three of the Christchurch Yearling Sale buoyant

New Zealand harness racing’s Yearling Sale wrapped up in Christchurch today (Feb. 22).

Sale topper over the three days was Price Bloodstock’s Bettor’s Delight colt out of Hartofdixie which was brought on Day Two by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan for $240,000.

Other high sellers were the Bettor’s Delight – Safedra colt which Peter Lagan Standardbreds purchased today on behalf of Willie and Jim Giumelli from Perth, paying $230,000 while Stonewall Stud paid $210,000 for Dancingonmoonlights Bettor’s Delight colt out of Wiggleit Jiggleit. Both were sold at today’s session.

The top five Christchurch lots over the three days were rounded out by a Bettor’s Delight filly out of Christian Dreamer which Lagan bought for the Giumellis, and a Bettor’s Delight colt out of Supersonic Miss which Stonewall paid $165,000 for.

The Giumellis have provided a great lift to the sales, after working out a shopping list with trainer Mike Reed before making the trip across to New Zealand.

“I go through the catalogue looking at the families, pedigrees and types. Then I write down the lot numbers I like. Willie gets her book and writes down the numbers she wants and then we compare notes. We’re on the same page quite a lot. The Safedra colt was our pick of the Sale,” Reed said.

Reed has some knowledge of the family as he trains Miss Allegra, (Bettor’s Delight) a daughter of Safedra. 

“She’s very good but just damaged a sheath on a tendon. The vet said to give her three months but Willie said we’ll give her six months then we won’t have a problem at all.”

Seeing the Safedra colt in the flesh confirmed Reed’s positive thoughts about him.

“I loved the way he walked and his conformation. He had nice big long shoulders and was alert.”  

NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray was satisfied with the results at the close of trading.

“We had a great session to close on today with a strong beginning and conclusion. It has been a bit of a roller coaster this week but we got through it and I think we have plenty to be happy about overall.”

Bray was particularly please to see West Australians back in the market.

“They made it very clear they wanted to come back here and be physically on the grounds. They have done what they said they were going to do, so we are really pleased.”

Champion New Zealand sire Bettor’s Delight remains a force in the yearling market and was responsible for producing the top three purchases today.

Fifteen yearlings prepared by Laura Smith sold for a total turnover of $1,003,000 and an average of $66,867.

Taffy Limited employed the services of Smith and they sold ten yearlings from her draft totalling $897,000.

The biggest buyer for the entire three days of the Sale was Stonewall Stud which purchased twenty two yearlings for a total of $1,632,000. 

John and Katrina Price, selling under their Price Bloodstock banner, sold five yearlings for an average price of $82,000 and an aggregate of $410,000. 

In 2020 they sold Republican Party for $210,000 while in 2021 they had a stunning result, selling their Bettor’s Delight – Hartofdixie colt for $320,000 and a Bettor’s Delight – Chicago Blues colt for $310,000 – the top two lots of that year. 

That adds up to over one million dollars in bloodstock for the Prices in a four year period and that’s without counting the lower priced yearlings they’ve sold as well.

Other SBSR lots to feature on the leader board were Vin and Daphne Devery with the sister to Amazing Dream which sold to the Giumellis for $190,000 and the Captaintreacherous – Arden’s Choice colt from Arden Lodge which was bought by Stonewall Stud for $140,000. 

Outside of the top lots there were many other Southern Bred Southern Reared success stories – the concept proving itself to be a success yet again. 

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink