SBSR – Hot to Trot

The excitement is starting to build with harness racing’s spotlight beaming in on the NZB Standardbred New Zealand National Standardbred Yearling Sales in Auckland and Christchurch.

The number of trotters entered in this year’s Christchurch Sale is slightly higher than last year, a pleasing trend for this gait.

There are undoubtably more opportunities for trotters now, particularly at age group level. The recently held Grand Prix meeting at Addington showcased the depth of this gait as well as the very good stake money available for age group trotters of both sexes.

Southern Bred Southern Reared have eleven trotting yearlings entered under their brand and the one that will attract the most buyer attention will be the En Solitaire – One Over Kenny colt (Lot 180) owned by Lex Williams and being prepared for sale by Julie White. 

One Over Kenny (Sundon) was a champion race mare winning over a million dollars. At stud all of her foals of racing age have won, with the two standouts being One Over Da Moon (Majestic Son) the winner of twenty two races and over $360,000, and Ultimate Stride (Love You) the winner of fourteen races and $228,753.

“He’s a striking colt. He’s tall which is probably the En Solitaire coming out in him, athletic, with a good cruisy attitude,” White said.  

White is preparing three other trotting colts for the Christchurch Sale –  two others for Lex Williams and one for Lew Driver.

Lot 166 is by Love You out of five win Majestic Son mare One Over Da Skye.

“I really like him. He’s a balanced, strong well-built colt and he could be a two year old.” 

Another offering out of the ‘One Over Kenny’ breed is Lot 173. He’s a Majestic Son colt out of the five win Love You mare One Over Da Stars.

“He’s a typically strong Majestic Son. He’s compact and easy.”

Rounding out the young trotters White is preparing is a Father Patrick colt out of the Continentalman mare Tip Your Hat Loui (Lot 192) which is owned by Lou Driver.

“He’s a nice trotter in the paddock. He’s out of a two win mare that’s had three foals to the races for three winners so I think you can’t go wrong with him. He’s a nice size.”   

Winton’s Michelle Caig is offering the last colt out of her outstanding mare Sun Mist (Sundon). Castle Hill (Lot 182) is a half-brother to a multitude of very good trotters. The mare’s latest foal to race – Flying Without Wings (Pegasus Spur) trained by Nathan Williamson, looks very promising.

“He’s a good size, well developed, strong boned and enjoys his work on the jogger. The more work this colt gets the better his attitude because he likes being busy. He would enjoy being in a big stable with plenty of activity,” preparer Michelle Caig said. 

Those that are looking beyond the racetrack should throw their eye over the Volstead – Liberty City filly (Lot 160) prepared by Shard Farm. Her pedigree page includes Allegro Agitato (Sundon) the winner of twenty two races including the Group One New Zealand National Trot and the Group One National Trot (twice).

“She’s a lovely athletic filly, whose full sister has been broken in by Phil Williamson and he rates her as a star of the future. This filly is well proportioned and easy to work with.  She is straight and uncomplicated,” said preparer Debbie Smith.

Northern Southland Stud Macca Lodge will have a keen eye on the progeny of their French stallion En Solitaire. He’s an unraced son of Ready Cash out of a Love You mare and is the first son of Ready Cash to stand in New Zealand. 

Tapanui’s Arden Lodge has a son by En Solitaire out of the Sundon mare Surfin Sunsation.

“I like the length of him, and he’ll have a heck of a stride for that reason. The buyers seem to like trotters long in the body. He’s an early foal and his mother is a three quarter sister to Allegro Agitato, and he’s very closely related to Con Grazia Love (Love You) which won the Trotting Oaks and finished fourth in the New Zealand Trotting Derby,” John Stiven from Arden Lodge said.

Moa Creek breeder Rusty Nevill has entered a Majestic Son colt out of the Love You mare Duchesse de L’Amour (Lot 143). She won two races for Geoff and Jude Knight and has had one foal to the races – Emily (Imperial Count) who has won once and has been placed five times from thirteen starts.

“She (Duchesse de L’Amour) was a big strong mare that had ability but they just couldn’t get it out of her. I crossed by fingers on getting something I could handle as a weanling and try and get in front of any head issues. This colt has been really good to work with. He’s precocious, a bit cheeky and wants to trot everywhere. He looks like an early type,” Nevill said.

Macca Lodge’s Brent McIntyre is excited about his Southwind Frank – Focus On Me colt (Lot 146). He’s a half-brother to outstanding young trotter Highgrove (Love You) so there should be plenty of interest in him.

“He’s not as big as Highgrove who was big and ugly but turned out to be a nice trotter and was two year old trotter of his year. This one’s just a nice type,” McIntyre said.

He’s also presenting an En Solitaire – Majestic Way colt (Lot 167). He’s from one of Southland’s oldest trotting families that has produced the likes of Alley Way the winner off eleven, Sundon’s Way which won fifteen races including an Ashburton Flying Mile and the very speedy Idid It Myway.

“He’s a beautiful looking good natured horse. I’ve got a full sister that’s bowling around and we really like her. She’s quite smart.”

Macca Lodge is also offering a What The Hill – Makarewa Jill filly named Brooklyn Hill (Lot 175).

“She’s not big but she’s nice. She’s a half-sister to Emma Frost (Monkey Bones) which won the Group Three Northern Trotting Stakes.”

So, the scene is set for another National Yearling Sale in Christchurch and if last year’s sale in anything to go on there should be some good money for well-bred good quality trotting stock.

And with Stonewall Stud intent on adding more trotters to their pacing arsenal there could be some strong competition from the buyers bench.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink