Sales ‘All Done’

The National Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch are ‘all done’ for this year and there were some bright lights over the four days.

Prices high end

SBSR’s John and Katrina Price’s boutique harness racing breeding operation continued to shine.

Over the last five years the Prices have taken thirteen horses to the Christchurch Sale, selling them for a total of $1,535,000. 

Their biggest return was in 2021 when they sold Erupt Stride (Bettor’s Delight) for $320,000 and Chicago Bear (Bettor’s Delight) for $310,000. They were the only two they took to the Sale that year.

Their biggest draft was at this year’s Sale where they offered five yearlings, selling them for a total of $41,0000. The Bettor’s Delight – Hartofdixie colt was bought by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan for $240,000 and was the Sale topper. The colt’s full brother Erupt Stride was also the Christchurch Sale topper in 2021 selling for $320,000.

Stonewall buying record

Stonewall Stud continued their rise from the buying bench.

In 2019 Stonewall spent $485,500 across both Sales buying thirteen yearlings. A year later they bought fifteen yearlings for $802,500.

In 2021 their purchases dropped back to eight yearlings at a cost of $664,000, whilst in 2022 they amped the activity up, buying twenty one yearlings for $2,348,000. At this year’s Sales they purchased twenty nine, their highest number to date, spending a massive $2,412,000. 

They also ventured to the National Weanling Sale last year, buying nine for a total of $271,000.

In the past five years they’ve purchased a total of eighty six yearlings and nine weanlings, for a total spend of $6,983,000.

Their most successful purchases have been BD Joe ($65,000) who’s has won twelve races and banked $326,002, while Alta Wiseguy ($30,000) has won ten races for $206,498 in stakes. Other good winners for Stonewall have been Allamericanlover ($35,000) eleven wins, Cloudy Bay ($43,000) seven wins and Chimichuri ($40,000) seven wins.

No doubt there are plenty more winners in the pipeline.

Taffy top Christchurch vendor

Todd and Fleur Anderson trading under Taffy Limited had another good result at the Christchurch Sale.

They sold nine yearlings this year for a total of $887,000 making them the highest individual vendor. They sold four yearlings for over $100,000 each and were the only vendors to do so.

Their $100,000 plus yearlings were Bettor’s Delight – Safedra colt ($230,000), Bettor’s Delight – Supersonic Miss colt ($165,000), Muscle Hill – Paramount Faith filly ($130,000) and Tactical Landing – San Diego colt ($100,000). The last two lots were the top two sellers in the trotting section of the Christchurch sale.

Breckon Farm rules Auckland

Breckon Farm’s investment in high end mares shone through at the Auckland sale and they continue to set new records.

The farm sold thirty three yearlings on Sale day in 2021 for $1,83600.00 – an average of $55,636.00 while in 2022 thirty one yearlings sold for a total of $2,06400.00 at an average of $66,580.

At this year’s Sale twenty seven of their yearlings sold for an aggregate of $2,230,500 – a new record for the farm. The average of $82,611 was also up by $16,031 on the previous year.

Breckon Farm sold the top two lots in Auckland, and they ultimately proved to be the top two across both Sales. Their Captaintreacherous filly out of Goodlookinggirl sold for $300,000 while their Captaintreacherous-Elle Mac fetched $270,000. 

Hot stallions

On the breeding front the buyers came for the progeny of Captaintreacherous who’s currently a worldwide sensation. Across both Sales eighteen of his twenty two lots sold for an average of $107,917.

There was also very good demand for his son and first season sire Captain Crunch. Thirty five of his fifty two yearlings catalogued sold for an average of $41,657. His stock satisfied the middle market but he also had a handful of higher end sales. The Captain Crunch – The Orange Agent colt sold for $220,000 while his Kensington Kate colt sold to Kentuckiana Lodge for $125,000. 

Bettor’s Delight continued to reign supreme at the Christchurch Sale, his progeny being the top five lots sold. 

In Auckland Captaintreacherous took out the first top two spots with Captain Crunch at third. Two well bred sons of trotting stallion Father Patrick also featured in the top ten in Auckland. 

SBSR success

The Southern Bred Southern Reared group were pleased to once again achieve the highest price paid for a yearling at the Christchurch Sale with the Bettor’s Delight – Hartofdixie colt. 

The group also sold the 2022 Sale topper, a Bettor’s Delight colt out of Fight For Glory ($260,000).  A Bettor’s Delight – Hartofdixie colt was the 2021 top seller ($320,000) and in 2020 the top lot was a Bettor’s Delight – Pemberton Shard filly ($280,000).

Success for SBSR in taking out that top lot in Christchurch again this year.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink