Mixed bag at trotting sale

After a very slow start, the first day of the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch today found a heartbeat late in the day when some of the sought after lots came into the ring.

The average sale price for yearling trotters this year was $33,694 compared to last years $23,592 but the clearance rate was down 10% from 62% in 2022 to just 52% at today’s sale.

Sixty horses were catalogued this year and thirty one were sold.

“The middle and bottom end of the market tended to be a bit tough, particularly at this Sale, but our team will continue to work hard to get lots across the line and we will see the clearance rate continue to climb overnight,” said NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray.

Both top lots today were offered by Laura Smith on behalf of Taffy Ltd. Owner Todd Anderson was ringside and he was pleased with his top sellers.

“We have been lucky enough to have sold some quality lots today (and they’ve) gone to good trainers. Laura does an outstanding job preparing the yearlings. It starts right from breeding them and then she foals them down. These results are a real credit to her, and she is a great horsewoman,” he said.

Woodend Beach trainers Greg and Nina Hope paid $130, 000 for a full sister to their star trotter Muscle Mountain, offered by Anderson and his wife Fleur.

“We felt we needed to have her really, just based on the other boy. It’s a thrill to get a full sister to him and you can’t get Muscle Hills anymore. We expected to pay a lot more for her to be fair. We’ve got two or three who want to be in but we’re going to syndicate her anyway,” Greg said. 

Hope says based on the performances of Muscle Mountain it shouldn’t be too hard to get owners for the filly and added that there could be some bigger targets for Muscle Mountain.

“I think at some stage he will go there (America). We thought if we’d gone to Aussie this time it could have been an option to take him on to Europe because we think he’s good enough to compete at that level. There’s no doubt at some point we’ll put him on the big stage.”

The second highest selling lot was for a Tactical Landing – San Diego Love colt offered by the same partnership. He was purchased by Auckland trainer Tony Herlihy for $100,000.

“He was a lovely type of colt. He’s from a great North Island family that Errol Downey developed which I know quite well. The underbidder was Barry Purdon (brother-in-law) so that was a good omen too. He was getting to the top of my limit,” Herlihy said.

Robert Dunn on behalf of Diamond Racing paid $95,000 for a En Solitaire – One Over Kenny colt prepared by the White Stables of Winton for Lex Williams. 

“When I saw him I really liked him. He was a very leggy athletic colt who might be more of a three year old. He’s a beautiful moving horse with a very good heart on him. Sam Taylor our vet went over him, and he couldn’t fault him. He got a few more ticks than the Love You colt that Lex offered which I understand is going over to Australia to be trained by Brent Lilley,” Robert Dunn said.

Dunn said Pat O’Driscoll from Yabby Dam Racing is going to take a share in the En Solitaire colt and his breeder Lex Williams is staying in the ownership.

“I’ll put some other owners around them. I came looking for trotters because we’ve had such a great run with them and we’ve got to keep it going.”

The White Stables and Williams also sold a Majestic Son colt out of One Over Da Stars which was purchased for $80,000 by Ashburton trainer Brent White.

“I trained the mother (Love You) until I put my hands up and surrendered because she was too much like hard work. She did have phenomenal speed and ability. When I went down for the SBSR tour I just liked him. Now I’ve got to find some owners for him but hey, keep smiling, we’ve got thirty days to pay,” White said.

The Ashburton trainer enlisted the help of Westwood Beach trainer Graeme Anderson to look over the colt just before he entered the ring.

“I was starting to second guess myself because I knew I was going to have to pay a bit for him so I got Graeme to come down and have a look at him. He’d marked him down as well.”

The second day of the Sale starts at 1.00pm tomorrow.

“We’re looking forward to the sale of pacers which commences tomorrow. We know there are some great horses catalogued, with outstanding pedigrees and types on offer,” Bray said.  

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink