By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Will a new record be set at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Auckland today?
A total of 130 yearlings will go under the hammer at Karaka, starting at 1pm, before the Sales move to the second day at Christchurch next Tuesday.
North Island heavyweights Breckon Farms and Woodlands Stud have the biggest drafts today with 38 and 36 yearlings and among Woodlands’ offerings is Lot 70, a colt by Captaintreacherous out of the champion mare that was Adore Me.
He’s Adore Me’s first colt and her first foal to be offered publicly.
Clearly the colt is going to attract some big numbers. But how big?
Could it for instance eclipse the record $340,000 that was forked out for No More Dreaming, Don’t Stop Dreaming’s full brother in Christchurch last year?
Lot 70 is likely to be up for sale around 3.15 this afternoon.
Not that today is all about one yearling – far from it.
There are many others that have prompted a lot of talk including Lot 73, from Breckon Farms, a Captaintreacherous colt out of the multiple Group 1-winning Bettor Twist.
Anther buzz yearling is Lot 106, the second foal and first colt by Next Gen sire Face Time Bourbon in Australasia. Face Time Bourbon won 35 races and over $7m in stakes. This is the first time his progeny have been offered for sale at the Yearling Sales. The colt is from Dance Craze (24 wins), a multiple Group 1 winning Muscle Hill daughter of La Coocaracha.
Karaka will see 22 Next Gen-eligible yearlings up for sale. Next Gen is HRNZ’s brand new ownership model. To see how Next Gen works click here for the Terms and Conditions
A further 48 Next Gen-eligible yearlings will be offered in Christchurch on Tuesday.
Coverage of the sales will be live streamed to NZB Standardbred’s website and Facebook page, as well as Freeview Channel 200 in New Zealand.
The 2021 sales success story
By Rob Courtney
Bruce Negus attended the 2021 Standardbred Weanling Sale at Karaka and came home with 14 horses.
They included a Sweet Lou – Nicky’s Power filly now known as Misty Blue (pictured above).
Last Sunday at Hororata’s race day at Methven, the now 4YO mare scored her second win in 18 starts for the Negus family, driver Sheree Tomlinson and her partner, Canterbury race caller Matt Cross.
“Bruce invited us to have a pick of a few in a paddock and she was the one we chose,” Cross shared.
Good enough to place in her sole start as a 2YO the win at Methven was not unexpected after a barnstorming finish at Amberley for third a week before and she was a pronounced favourite on the day.
She was a cheap enough buy for Negus at $4k and on her most recent form looks now to be quite a bargain. Her earnings so far are just over $27K.
Her residual value has also dramatically increased in recent times. She is now a half sister to four winners including Yossi (18 wins and $174k) and the very handy Pinseeker (5 wins to date) who looks like a potential ‘Cup’ horse in the making.
From that weanling sale and of the 14 that Negus brought home, seven (50%) have made it to the races so far. Placed with a number of other trainers, Oliver (Colin & Julie DeFilippi), Misty Blue (Ford/Tomlinson) and Munroe’s Mate (Tony Barron) have all won two races to date. Quinn, whom Negus trains himself has also won twice.
A Little Silence (Matt Purvis) placed twice in only two starts including a second in the Group 2 2YO Sapling Stakes before being sold to Australia. Ultimatum (Matt Purvis) has been placed three times in a short career to date.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but that 2021 weanling sale resulted in some wonderful progeny.
Christopher Dance ($8k purchase) is now a Group 1 winner (Western Australian 3YO Derby) with five wins from only 11 starts and $207k while Kiss ($20k purchase) was a 3YO Breeders Crown winner in Australia last season and has now won six and $183k.
Also purchased out of that 2021 Weanling Sale were : Le Major ($30k purchase, five wins and $82k), Leo Lincoln ($27k purchase, four wins and $52k), Ultimate Racy Girl ($15k purchase, two wins and $142k), Mako ($7500 purchase, three wins and $61k) and impressive recent debutante winner Words ($4k purchase).
