Strengthening the relationship

The harness racing relationship between Southern Bred Southern Reared and North American Stud Farm Diamond Creek Farm continues to grow.

Key personel from the farm are becoming regular visitors to New Zealand, the latest being Emily Pursell who’s General Manager of Equine Operations and was in the south earlier this month.

Hosted by John and Judy Stiven of Arden Lodge, this was Pursell’s first visit to New Zealand and she was impressed.

“It’s breathtaking and peaceful. It’s green over here and the weather is so much better,” she said.

This year Diamond Creek Farm sent two mares I’m In Heaven and Easter Island to Arden Lodge.

“They’re both in foal to Confederate. We sent the mares down in August and we’re super excited to have our first two foals drop here next year.”

I’m In Heaven is by Huntsville out of Divine Caroline which won eleven races and in 2015 was named Dan Patch Three Year Old Pacing Filly of the Year while Easter Island is by Captain Crunch. Her dam Drop The Ball won twenty four races and $1.4 million. Both reside at Arden Lodge.

“We’re looking at sending a couple more mares over here and it would be great if we could have a couple of racehorses. John and Judy do a great job and we’re going to continue to work with them.”

Diamond Creek Farm donates a number of stallion services to SBSR who in turn sell them to broodmare owners, thus raising funds for race sponsorships.

Their key sponsorship is the Group One $100,000 Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic which began in 2015 with a stake of $22,000 and has grown over ten years. The race was run as a Group One for the first time earlier this year.

On the home front Pursell says the recent yearling sales in America were positive for the industry.

“There’s been an enormous amount of money spent on yearlings over the past few years. There’s definitely new people and more money coming in. We’re looking at innovative ways and trying to get more interest in it and that’s been an issue for a while. In Kentucky specifically there’s plenty of money pouring in but in other areas it’s kind of difficult right now. It’s thriving in some areas, but we need to pick it up in others.”

Diamond Creek Farm continues to grow and it’s clear New Zealand is becoming a key part of the expansion. The NZ Sales will have a more international feel when Diamond Creek Farm yearlings start to be presented for sale and its hoped that will translate into some international buyers.

“We’ve got round two hundred and fifty mares and thirteen stallions, and it’s growing every year. The sky’s the limit for us right now.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink