Southern eyes on Auckland

Southern Bred Southern Reared breeders will be keeping a close eye on the big races at tonight’s (Mar. 24) meeting in Auckland.

In the Crombie Lockwood Bloodstock Delightful Lady Classic, the southern group of breeders is represented by Onyx Shard (Sweet Lou) bred by Myross Bush couple Mark and Debbie Smith. She was sold at the Christchurch sale for $30,000 and is the first foal out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Delightful Shard.

In the Breckon Farms Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes, SBSR have two graduates from the Christchurch sale, Cold Chisel (Always B Miki) and Major Jay (Art Major).

Cold Chisel was bred by Mark and Pauline O’Connor and Owen Shaw and is trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan. He’s out of the O’Connor’s good mare Shezaball (Presidential Ball) which won eight races and ran second in the 2012 Southland Oaks. Cold Chisel sold for $100,000 and is one of the favourites for the $63,000 final.

Major Jay was also sold at the 2022 sale fetching $70,000. He was offered by galloping trainer Brian Anderton and the estate of Brian Kennedy. He’s trained by Tony Herlihy.

Outside of the SBSR stock sold at the sales, the southern region is well represented in some of the other big races with Advance Party (Bettor’s Delight) owned by Wintonians John and Katrina Price fronting up in the Group One Pascoe the Jewellers Northern Oaks. Old Town Road (Bettor’s Delight) starts his latest campaign in the Group Two City of Auckland FFA for owners Ben and Karen Calder.  

Merlin (Art Major) bred by Central Southlanders Todd and Fleur Anderson rounds out the southern interests. He’ll be running in the $135,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Northern Derby in which he’s expected to be hot favourite.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink