Pacing delights bolster yearling sale catalogue

The catalogue for NZB Standardbred’s 2022 National Yearling Sale is once again filled with an outstanding line up of proven and emerging sires, boasting excellent race records as some of harness racing’s greatest pacers.

A new class of quality New Zealand-bred yearlings are set to follow in the footsteps of previous champions offered in the Auckland and Christchurch sale rings.

The four days of action-packed selling commences Sunday 13 February at Karaka before moving South, running from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 February at Canterbury Agricultural Park.

From the champion of champions, Bettor’s Delight (USA), to emerging star Always B Miki (USA), to the breakout freshman Downbytheseaside (USA), this year’s sire representation covers some of the world’s best pacing stallions.

Bettor’s Delight (USA)

Crowned Champion sire in both New Zealand and Australia for ten consecutive seasons, Bettor’s Delight needs little introduction to prospective yearling sale purchasers.

The stallion stamps his yearlings with the confirmation and constitution required for elite racing.

Bettor’s Delight is coming off another all-conquering season, with his stock dominating Group One races across Australasia.

Stellar NZB Standardbred graduate Akuta (NZ) is the latest in the long line of stars produced by the sire, after completing a phenomenal performance with his ten-length Group One victory at the 2021 Harness Jewels.

Kiwi-bred Bettor Twist (NZ) and NZB Standardbred graduate Krug (NZ) are both dual Group One classic race winners, sweeping New Zealand’s Oaks and Derby races in their respective categories.

Self Assured (NZ) and Amazing Dream (NZ) also continued their sire’s dominance in Grand Circuit races with an assortment of Group One wins.

There are 37 yearlings by Bettor’s Delight offered in Auckland, with a further 26 set to go under the hammer in Christchurch.

Always B Miki (USA) 

A world record holder on the track, Always B Miki has also become a force to be reckoned with in the breeding barn.

With his oldest crop now three-year-olds, they have already captured Group One wins on both sides of the Tasman.

Few have been more impressive than NZB Standardbred graduate Franco Indie (NZ), who produced a crushing, record-breaking win with an epic performance in the Group One Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day.

With two Group One winners across the Tasman, a total of 12 stakes race wins, and being crowned the leading prizemoney earning sire of two and three-year-old pacers combined in the United States in 2021, Always B Miki’s career could not have made a better start at stud.

The next wave of the exciting stallion’s stock will be on offer at the 2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, with nine progeny for sale in Auckland and 28 yearlings offered in Christchurch.

Art Major (USA) 

Art Major’s progeny are not just brilliant performers on racetracks globally, but they continue to dominate in the sale ring.

Art Major has left an incredible mark on the Australasian breeding industry, leaving a prolific line up of leading two-year-olds through to champion open class horses for more than 15 years.

Still producing juvenile and classic race stars, the sire’s progeny continued to set Australasian racetracks alight in 2021 with a series of scintillating, record-breaking performances.

Art Major, now a sire of sires through both Ride High and Vincent (AUS), will continue his siring legacy at the 2022 National Yearling Sale with 15 lots offered in Auckland and 45 in Christchurch.

Downbytheseaside (USA) 

Downbytheseaside’s yearlings were in hot demand when they sold for the first time at NZB Standardbred’s 2021 National Yearling Sale.

The emerging sire returns for the 2022 edition with a highly impressive resume.

An outstanding two and three-year-old himself, Downbytheseaside’s first crop of racing age in North America have followed in his footsteps.

After many feature race victories, Downbytheseaside’s stock saw him finish a very narrow second to Captaintreacherous (USA) on the United States two-year-old pacing sires premiership for stakes earnings.

With Downbytheseaside’s first Southern Hemisphere crop now rising two-year-olds, they are expected to hit racetracks across Australasia this season. Excitement is building ahead of their debut with strong reports coming from leading stables.

There are 13 lots on offer at the Auckland Sale and a further eight yearlings catalogued in Christchurch.

Captaintreacherous (USA) 

As well as being the leading sire of two-year-olds in North America, Captaintreacherous has continued to produce star performers across Australasia.

Group One winner and brilliant NZB Standardbred graduate It’s All About Faith (NZ) was a star of the New Zealand Cup Carnival, while fellow graduate Hot And Treacherous (NZ) stamped himself as an emerging open class star.

With his career earnings peaking at US$3,000,000, Captaintreacherous was a star on the track and with his legacy continuing at stud.

There are six yearlings by Captaintreacherous catalogued in Auckland and a further 21 in Christchurch.

Vincent (AUS) 

Vincent has made a strong start to his career at stud, after a victory in the first two-year-old race of the New Zealand season.

The stallion’s first starter Seve (NZ) notched his first win with a slick performance at Alexandra Park on 21 January 2022.

With several other progeny by Vincent performing well at trials and workouts, the exciting pacing sire is on track to make a big impact in New Zealand’s breeding industry.

Vincent’s progeny were highly sought after in their debut at NZB Standardbred’s 2021 National Yearling Sale. The stallion topped the leading first season sire by average table, selling 14 lots for an average of $43,071, including a top price of $215,000.

Prospective buyers looking for athletic yearlings will be eager to secure more of the stallion’s stock this year with just one lot for sale in Auckland and a further 14 on offer in Christchurch.

Sweet Lou (USA) 

Sweet Lou has been making headlines on both sides of the Tasman ahead of the 2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale.

His star New Zealand-bred son Spirit Of St Louis (NZ) recently completed back-to-back Cup wins in Australia, taking out the Group Two Shepparton Cup, before winning the Group One Ballarat Cup.

NZB Standardbred graduate Aladdin (NZ) just completed his three-year-old season with stakes wins on both sides of the Tasman, including the NZB Standardbred $200,000 Harness Million for three-year-old colts and geldings.

With another strong offering, Sweet Lou will see 19 progeny go under the hammer in Auckland and 29 in Christchurch.

All unbroken yearlings purchased at the 2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale are eligible for the lucrative $1million dollar Harness Million Sale Race Series.

2022 marks the debut of the pre-NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale meeting, with a mega race night of six Group or Listed races confirmed for Alexandra Park on the eve of the Sale. Starting at the later than usual time of 7:30PM (NZT), the Harness Million Series meeting will be held on Saturday 12 February 2022, before selling commences at Karaka on Sunday.

Buyers can purchase confidently with all yearlings inspected during the on-farm parades. NZB Standardbred and New Zealand based-agents and trainers are available to inspect on behalf of prior to the Sale and on the grounds at the Karaka Sales Centre and Canterbury Agricultural Park.

Buyers who cannot physically attend the Sale are encouraged to participate via NZB’s user-friendly online bidding platform. Register for online bidding here.

New Zealand-based buyers and agents will be required to pre-register in order to physically attend the sale sessions held in Auckland and Christchurch. Domestic purchasers can apply to physically attend that Sale here.

View the full catalogue online here.

Selling Schedule

• Auckland Sale Day 1 -Sunday 13 February 2022, 12:00pm (NZT) Sale of Trotters & Pacers: Lots 1 – 138
• Christchurch Sale Day 1 -Monday 14 February 2022, 3:00pm (NZT) Sale of Trotters: Lots 139 – 205
• Christchurch Sale Day 2 – Tuesday 15 February 2022, 1:00pm (NZT) Sale of Pacers Lots 206 – 310
• Christchurch Sale Day 3 – Wednesday 16 February 2022, 1.00pm (NZT) Sale of Pacers Lots 311 – 415