Woodlands has a big presence at NZB Standardbred National Yearling sales

Andrew Grierson can be forgiven for having a wry smile when he thinks of the strength of Woodlands Stud’s draft for the Karaka Yearling Sales in two weeks.

Because the co-owner of the South Auckland mega nursery has been here before and it didn’t quite turn out as he expected.

Woodlands will take 32 yearlings to the sale on February 16, including one of the superstar lots in the Captaintreacherous colt out of champion mare Adore Me.

It is one of the hottest families in Australasian harness racing, littered with champions, so Lot 46 will be one of the most anticipated youngsters sold all week.

“We have a draft of 32 with 28 being colts,” says Grierson.

“We have had some of the heavy hitters tell us it is one of the best drafts they have seen and we are very proud of them.

“But we had a lot of comments like that three or four years ago and I remember we had an average sale that year.

“Afterwards people were coming up to us and saying ‘we loved this horse but we thought it would go for too much’.

“There can sometimes be that attitude with this really well-bred stock but the reality is we take them there to sell.

“A successful sale this year would be if all 32 find nice homes so people should come look at them, we are sellers.”

The Adore Me colt is an embryo transfer and while he is a November 16 foal in harness racing, with the yearlings who are sold at the sales not racing until at least a year after the hammer falls, later foalings realistically don’t matter any more.

He is an upstanding colt with the family looks so is going to make serious money on Monday week.

While Woodlands is the home of the King, Bettor’s Delight, who won stallion of the year again at the annual awards in Christchurch on Saturday, they are represented by a spread of stallions at Karaka.

Bettor’s Delight has nine in their draft but they have plenty by Downbytheseaside and Sweet Lou as well as yearlings by Lather Up, American Ideal, Stay Hungry and just the one trotter in Lot 126 by What The Hill, who won the trotting stallion of the year award.

The Karaka sale will host a parade day on Sunday February 15 with 133 lots catalogued for the next day before the Christchurch sale hosts its parade day on February 17 with that sale now condensed into one day on February 18.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand