Trotting breed going through dramatic change

Pacing holds a dominant position in the harness racing industry in both Australia and New Zealand but not in North America and the pacing gait doesn't exist at all in mainland Europe.

What that has meant since the introduction of the shuttling of stallions is that the emphasis in Australasia has always been heavily weighted towards pacing stallions while paying lip service to trotting stallions in the main.

However through the efforts of companies such as Stallions Australasia and Haras des Trotteurs, Australasian breeders of the squaregaiter are now getting access to some of the best trotting stallions in the world and our trotting breed is already showing the benefits on the track.

Love You, Angus Hall and Majestic Son have already stamped their mark down under alongside sires such as  Dream Vacation and Muscles Yankee and with the big influx of elite sires now in train, the choice for trotting breeders is mouthwatering.

One of the new breed who is just getting started downunder is the brilliant racehorse and now sire in Muscle Hill 1:50.2 ($3,273,342) who has done a huge job at stud in North America in his first three years at stud leaving such brilliant types as Trixton 1:50.3 ($968, 696) from his first crop, Mission Brief 1:50.2 ($1,657,399) from his second crop and the brilliant two year old of 2015 in Southwind Frank 1:52.2 ($941,811) from his third crop.

Muscle Hill has six yearlings in this years round of yearling sales and all have plenty to recommend them to buyers.

It is hard to fault any of them on pedigree but the all American bred filly Girls On Film who sells as Lot 83 at the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale is right up with anything being offered this year.

Girls On Film is the fifth foal from the race winning Malabar Maple mare in Regal Volo ($25,231) who is compiling an outstanding record at stud.

Her first foal was the outstanding Muscles Yankee gelding Twentyten 1:58.9 ($235,,834) while the second foal was the smart trotter in Alannah Hall 1:58.6 ($33,033)

The third foal was last years leading two year old trotter in High Gait 2:00.7 ($151,451) while the fourth foal is the Love You two year old filly in Regal Love who was super impressive at the Rangiora trials last Wednesday and is held in very high regard by the All Star barn.

The grand-dam of Girls On Film is the quality North American racemare in Royal Jewel 1:57.3 ($218,343) who is a half sister to the former outstanding age group star Diamond Goal 1:53.2 ($621,915).

With the strength of her pedigree and the current success it is having in Australasia, it wouldn't be a surprise if Girls On Film topped the trotting side of the Australasian Classic Sale on February 22nd.

To look at the catalogue for the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale click on this link.

Harnesslink Media