Australasian Stars Sourced from NZB Standardbred

While the dominance of New Zealand-bred and sold horses continues to accelerate, a star-studded catalogue of youngsters is set to go under the hammer next week for NZB Standardbred’s 2023 National Yearling Sale in Auckland and Christchurch.

Since entering the market in 2019, NZB Standardbred graduates have created a wave of success that has firmly established the auction house as the number one source of star racehorses in Australasia.

• With the oldest just four years of age, at the end of last season NZB Standardbred graduates claimed 35 Group One wins and 81 stakes wins.
• A source of classic winners, NZB Standardbred graduates have won 11 Derbys across Australasia in the past two seasons.
• NZB Standardbred graduate Rock N Roll Doo (NZ) was a mere $14,000 investment at the 2019 National Yearling Sale. From his eleven race wins, he has earned over $451,000 – 32 times his purchase price.

Brilliant horses like Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Millwood Nike (NZ) (Captaintreacherous), Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Highgrove (NZ) (Love You) have each taken the path from the NZB Standardbred’s sale ring to Group One stardom.

 

Akuta (NZ) 

Akuta’s last start win in the $250,000 Group One New Zealand Derby (2600m) was the perfect display of the brilliant four-year-old’s power and brilliance. The All Stars stable pacer had no favours in the running of the classic event, but it didn’t stop him from clearing out to win by a huge six and a half lengths.

Akuta was purchased by the All Stars Racing Stables for $170,000 from breeder-vendors Paul and Pauline Renwick at 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

Since then, Akuta has won five Group One titles on his way to establishing himself as New Zealand’s next superstar pacer.

Defeated just once as a two-year-old, Akuta has just completed the rarest of three-year-old seasons where he both raced with tremendous credit against open class horses while dominating his age-group rivals.

Renwick Farm will offer a full brother to Akuta at the 2023 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch. Lot 199 is a colt by Bettor’s Delight out of Christian Cullen mare Adore To Our Dreams (NZ). This lot is also a full brother to Group Three winner in Queensland (Lady) Avana (NZ)

 

Millwood Nike (NZ) 

Millwood Nike left absolutely no question over whether she was the best pacing filly in New Zealand during 2022 after completing a stunning debut season on the track.

The daughter of Captaintreacherous was secured by All Stars Racing Stables for $75,000 from Millwood Farm at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch.

The outstanding filly remained unbeaten throughout the 2022 season and the way she went about it left no excuses for her rivals.

Millwood Nike was given absolutely no favours when forced to sit parked throughout her season-ending win in the $100,000 Group One Ace Of Diamonds (1980m) at Addington. The three-time Group One-winning filly shrugged off doing a power of work in top level company with ease, securing her eighth victory from eight starts.

Harness racing fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the brilliant filly will perform in 2023.

 

Republican Party (NZ) 

Republican Party combined incredible speed and staying power during an outstanding three-year-old season.

The pacer was a $210,000 purchase by Cran Dalgety at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale from breeder-vendors Price Bloodstock.

Republican Party headed to Australia recently as a two-time New Zealand record holder and Group One winner.

The pacer was the archrival of Akuta during his brilliant 2022 season where he won eight of his twelve starts.

Republican Party immediately got his four-year-old season underway in style after winning the A$50,000 Group Three Hondo Gratton Stakes (1609m) at Menangle this month.

That win earned the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained pacer automatic qualification into the $200,000 Group One Chariots Of Fire (1609m), one of the most anticipated races in Australasia this Summer.

 

Highgrove (NZ) 

Few trotters have shown the raw ability, speed and flashes of brilliance that Highgrove has during his two seasons on the track.

The brilliant gelding was purchased by Robert and Jenna Dunn’s Diamond Racing Stables for $34,000 from breeder-vendors Tavistock Breeding at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

NZB Standardbred’s lucrative Harness Million Race Series has paid maximum dividends for the Dunn stable and their clients. Highgrove won back-to-back Harness Million victories in the $75,000 Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trot (1980m) and the $75,000 Harness Million Three-Year-Old Trot (2200m).

Those two titles sit nicely on the star trotter’s CV, alongside his national record-breaking win in the $100,000 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby (2700m).

Breaking New Zealand records over both 1700 metres and 2700 metres is a perfect display of Highgrove’s exceptional speed and stamina.

 

Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) 

Powerful back-to-back Group One wins in the $156,400 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Series Final (1980m) and the $100,000 Ace Of Spades (1980m) completed an epic two-year-old season on the track for Don’t Stop Dreaming.

The outstanding colt was purchased by All Stars Racing Stables for $250,000 from Studholme Bloodstock at the 2021 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

The two top-level victories earned Don’t Stop Dreaming the title of best two-year-old male pacer in New Zealand, putting him at the top of a talented crop.

The son of Bettor’s Delight used both scintillating speed and exceptional stamina to win six of his seven starts, with five of those victories earned at Group level.

Don’t Stop Dreaming met defeat just once in his all-conquering 2022 when running the bravest of second placings behind fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Pace (1980m).

Harness racing fans are already counting down to the first clash between the brilliant pair in 2023.

True Fantasy (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Merlin, B D Joe (NZ) (Roll With Joe), Krug (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Ollivici (NZ) (Orlando Vici) and Rock N Roll Doo (NZ) (Rock N Roll Heaven) are also among the long list of NZB Standardbred graduates who have made their mark in Australasian feature races.

NZB Standardbred’s 2023 National Yearling Sale will take place in Auckland on Sunday 19 February, with selling continuing in Christchurch from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 February.

The 2023 Harness Million Series Meeting for three-year-olds will take place at Cambridge Raceway on Friday 17 February.

All yearlings will be inspected by NZB Standardbred agents at the 2023 on-farm parades, who are available to take inspection notes or complete evaluations on behalf of buyers.

Buyers wishing to physically attend the Sale can enquire about accommodation options by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

Online bidding is available for all prospective purchasers via standardbred.bidonline.nzb.co.nz, plus an extensive online catalogue that will host pedigrees, parade videos and photos, updates and important information to assist your buying decisions.

View the full 2023 catalogue here