End of an era for Brogden Lodge

The upcoming National Weanling Sale at Karaka marks the end of an era as vendors for well-known breeders Graham and Judy Bowen.

The pair who have been breeding standardbreds for nearly twenty years under their Brogden Lodge banner, are set to swap the horse float for the campervan as retirement awaits.

“My Dad was a harness trainer in Cambridge, so I was involved for all my teenage years,” commented Graham.

“After he passed away, my wife Judy and I bought our first band of broodmares around 2004, and we’ve been breeding standardbreds and coming to the sales ever since.”

Set for their final sale on 23 May at Karaka, Brogden Lodge will offer two quality colts.

Lot 31, a colt by the in-form sire Captaintreacherous from their Group One-placed mare Juice Brogden(NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

“Captaintreacherous is a sire going places here and you’ve got to remember not many of his straws come to New Zealand, so they’re pretty limited.”

“He (Lot 31) is a very precocious type of colt,” he added.

“He oozes quality, and he’s from a good young family, while Juice Brogden is a seven-time winner and Group One-placed herself.

“I believe this is the nicest horse I’ve ever bred, it’s a very get-up-and-go family and I look forward to bringing him to the market.”

The colt is Juice Brogden’s third foal, with the first foal already a race winner. It’s Nae or Never (Art Major) was purchased by Nicky Chilcott at the 2022 National Yearling Sale for $75,000 and has had a win and place at two from just three starts.

While Stonewall Stud purchased the full brother at the 2023 National Yearling Sale for $95,000 and continues to look promising.

The pair will also present Lot 64, a colt by Downbytheseaside, from the unraced Sportswriter mare Right on Serena (NZ) who hails from the Alta Serena bloodlines.

“Alta Serena needs no introduction, what a race mare she was,” Graham mentioned.

“It’s just her second foal, but he’s a very correct, good colt. It looks to be the right cross, he’s a strong but quality type.”

With their operation winding down, Graham and Judy are looking forward to what is in store next.

“We’ve loved it all, the breeding, coming to the sales and watching them all go on to be great racehorses.”

“It was such a thrill, but I’m 74 and I think I deserve to retire now,” he laughed.

“We will keep shares in a few racehorses to continue to enjoy the industry, from the sidelines.

“I’ve sold the horse float and swapped it for a campervan so we can go explore New Zealand a lot more together now.”

The 2024 National Weanling Sale will take place 23 May at the Karaka Sales Centre, commencing from 12pm (NZT). Weanlings will be available to view on the premises from Tuesday 21 May.

NZB Agents have inspected each weanling and can assist with any enquiries.

All weanlings purchased at the 2024 National Weanling Sale at Karaka are eligible to be entered 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 prize pool.

View the 108-lot catalogue online click here.

From NZB Standardbred