The doyen’s last year, but Studholme goes on

Brian West has ‘been there and done that’ as an owner/breeder within NZ’s harness racing industry and the principal of Studholme Bloodstock has well and truly developed that specific skill of ‘hitting the canvas and bouncing back’ after nearly 50 years of sending yearlings to our national sales.

Now in his early 70s, West easily recalls (but not fondly) the first time he took a yearling to the ‘sales’. He was 23 and the horse was passed in for $1200.

“That introduction was a real kick in the teeth”, he reflected.

Now in the modern day and by his own admission, the upcoming 2024 sales will be his last as he is well advanced in putting into place a succession plan where the active role of managing Studholme Bloodstock will be officially passed over to grandson Vinnie West-Pulu.

“The operation currently employs six staff but Vinnie has been running the farm for quite some time now”, he explained.

The West philosophy has also always included a degree of risk taking (mainly around sire selection). He is fully aware that the yearling sales can be full of ‘swings and roundabouts and that some sales are better than others.

Brian has been really re-energised by the arrival of Entain and because of their commitment to the NZ racing industry, he is expecting others (investors/buyers) to have similar sentiments, which in turn could be rewarding for vendors on this occasion.

To further reinforce this renewed confidence in the future of harness racing (for the next few years at least), Studholme has bred 27 mares this breeding season. This number has been boosted by recent retirees in NZ Oaks winner No Matter Wat, Mon Lancome (four wins from only 10 starts and a last start winner on ‘cup day’) and Paramount Empress (five wins from only 10 starts and placed at group level).

The 2024 Studholme yearling draft numbers 17 and is littered with proven sires over well credentialled families.

At the forefront of this draft is Lot 301, the Bettor’s Delight colt full brother to top 3yo Don’t Stop Dreaming and the very promising Dreams Are Free (three wins from five starts) and he is a standout and quite a perfect specimen according to West.

But Brian West is quite aware that a successful sale will have to rely on more than just one lot selling well.

“We bred 3 to Bettor’s Wish that year and got three fillies. Lot 371, from Blah Blah Blah, an unraced Cullen mare, is a fabulous type and a half to three winners”.

Another of those fillies is a half to now top 2yo Chase A Dream and in hindsight West reflected that perhaps she should have been entered for the sale as well.

“We took a punt on Downbytheseaside at the time but I genuinely believe he has now proven himself at age group level. Six of the draft are by him including Lot 171, a close relation of champion filly Millwood Nike.”

Lot 239, a Bettor’s Delight colt from My Style (six to race for six winners including big Australian winner The Black Prince P1.49.9 + $525k in stakes) is another who should garner plenty of attention when paraded.

Lot 332 an Art Major half to top mares Manhattan and No Matter Wat, is a great type according to West and buyers will have to dig deep to take her home! Studholme has 4 trotting bred yearlings in their draft and West is very pleased to see their type reintegrated back into the main catalogue.

“I didn’t support the initial move into a separate sale for trotters and I believe they have now done the right thing by reverting to the former format.”

Three of the trotters, Lot 181, 252 and 309 respectively, are bred to ‘northern hemisphere time’ (and deliberately so), with the trio all being sons of champion sire Majestic Son and West strongly supports the marketplace for this aged stock.

“I am still very positive about the stock of Lazarus and in Lot 186, we have a great example of his siring potential”, he reinforces.

The colt’s dam, by American Ideal, although unraced, is a half to standout performers in A Bit Of A Legend and London Legend, both bred by Studholme.

West has only one regret as the February sale comes around and that is the fact that he has no Captaintreacherous colt this time to offer as he sees him as a ‘magic’ horse.

So, come post sale time, what does a premier breeder, who has given so much to the industry, do with his time?

“Stepping back will allow me to have a life,” he laughs away but all jokes aside, Brian West has thoroughly enjoyed the ‘roller coaster’ ride the industry has given him and travelling to England and France will come sooner than later.

The pending yearling sales this February house the potential to give him some ‘spending money’ for such a trip and a life thereafter.

Well-deserved BW.

by Rob Courtney, reprinted with permission from New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Assn