The Eagle has landed

At the NZB Standardbred harness racing sales in Christchurch today aptly named The Eagle Has Landed, announced the arrival of the progeny of super star trotter Bold Eagle in New Zealand.

The winner of more than five million euros has limited numbers on the ground and the stunning colt was offered by Oamaru breeder Bev Williamson and prepared by her husband Phil.

He was sold today to Australian buyer Jim Connelly of Kyvalley Racing.

“He’s a very natural trotter who’s heading over to Australia to Brent Lilley’s, he’ll do a really good job with him,” Bev said.

“My trainer told me to buy him and that’s what I did. Follow instructions,” Connelly added.

He also races horses out of Chris Svanosio’s Victoria stables and Kyvalley Maven (Tactical Landing) was placed in two Group races last season from only eight starts for the partnership.

In years past, Connelly raced Skyvalley, (Muscle Mass) the winner of four Group One’s and twenty other races, and Kyvalley Blur (Chocolatier) the winner of thirty races and $611,790.

Today he also purchased two other trotting yearlings both by Muscle Hill stallion Propulsion. Both out of Monarchy mares, they were part of Laura Smith’s draft. One was out of Ethereal and sold for $40,000 and the other out of Firenzo was knocked down for $44,000.

Connolly is Australian and runs a building company. He said all three trotting yearlings will head home and be aimed at the rich two year old races in Victoria.

The Williamsons were alerted to the quality of Bold Eagle by their son Matty who went to Europe for the World Drivers Championship.

“He said he was outstanding. Just a champion. So when we could get him we decided to jump at the chance. According to Haras de Trotteurs he’s doing such a good job in America it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to get anymore semen,” Bev said.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink