First Crops of Freshmen Sires in Hot Demand

One of New Zealand’s greatest-ever standardbreds heads the list of exciting new sires represented at NZB Standardbred’s 2022 National Yearling Sale held in Auckland and Christchurch from 13 – 16 February.

This year’s Sale marks the first time progeny of Champion performer Lazarus (NZ) will be offered in the Karaka and Canterbury Agricultural Park sale rings.

Lazarus is just one of an outstanding lineup of freshman sires ready to make their mark in 2022.

Other standout performers include Fear The Dragon (USA), En Solitaire (FR), Tactical Landing (USA) and Volstead (USA), who will also make their debuts at the New Zealand’s National Standardbred Yearling Sale commencing next week.
 

Lazarus (NZ)

A superstar like few others before him, Lazarus needs little introduction to Australasian yearling buyers. 

A 15-time Group One winner down under and a New Zealand and Australian horse of the year title holder, Lazarus was a certified racetrack champion.

After dominating Australasian harness racing, the star took his talents to North America where he won several feature races including the time-honoured Dan Patch on debut, as well as the Hoosier Pacing Derby, both in scintillating 1:48.8 times.

Lazarus has already debuted in North American sale rings, with his stock highly sought after. 54 yearlings by the star racehorse sold for a whopping total of US$2,376,000, averaging US$44,000 and representing a strong rate of return for breeders.

Among Lazarus’ debut offering at Karaka is Lot 50, a colt offered by Tardina Stud out of Dreaming Spires (NZ) (Dream Away). The Lot is a three-quarter blood brother to multiple stakes-race performer Hug The Wind (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and a close relation to Group One-winning star Chase Auckland (NZ) (Auckland Reactor).

The Christchurch Sale features Lot 219, a filly out of grand producing mare Unrehearsed (NZ) (Live Or Die). Unrehearsed is the dam of Group One star Lizzie Maguire (NZ) (Christian Cullen) and a further six winners.
 

Fear The Dragon (USA)

After making a big impact in the Northern Hemisphere, age-group star Fear The Dragon’s progeny will be offered for the first time at NZB Standardbred’s National Yearling Sale in Auckland and Christchurch. 

With toughness and sheer speed, Fear The Dragon completed big race wins in the $US1,000,000 North America Cup, as well as the US$500,000 Hempt Memorial and US$400,000 Adios Final in a brilliant three-year-old season.

Fear The Dragon’s progeny debuted on North American racetracks in 2021 with excellent success. Stacked with potential, the stallion finished the year rated ahead of Champion sire Bettor’s Delight on the stakes-earning list of two-year-old sires.

Fear The Dragon is represented by six yearlings offered in the Christchurch sale ring.

Among them is Lot 335, a colt out of grand producing mare Lillian (NZ) (Falcon Seelster). This Lot, offered by Macca Lodge, is a half-brother to seven winners and is from the family of Grand Circuit star Galactic Star (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).
 

Tactical Landing (USA)

Tactical Landing was a star of the sale ring himself after he was purchased for an incredible US$800,000 price tag in North America. 

The stallion went on to show grit on the racetrack, following in the footsteps of his sire, the renowned Muscle Hill (USA) and his dam Southwind Serena (USA), after winning a Breeder’s Crown Final.

Tactical Landing served consecutive full books in North America after his retirement to stud. His stock were strongly sought after in the Northern Hemisphere, with his leading colt fetching $US260,000 and his top priced filly selling for $US200,000.

Tactical Landing will be represented by five yearlings at the 2022 National Yearling Sale, with one to be offered at Karaka and a further four to be sold at Canterbury Agricultural Park.

Among them is a Lot 145, a colt out of star racemare Wilma’s Mate (NZ) (Pegasus Spur). A Group One winner on both sides of the Tasman, the colt is her first foal and will be offered through Dancingonmoonlight’s draft.
 

En Solitaire (FR)

En Solitaire’s outstanding European genetics will be available to avid National Yearling Sale buyers for the first time in 2022. 

The stallion is the first son by outstanding trotting sire Ready Cash (FR) to stand in New Zealand. En Solitaire’s dam, Ushuaia Wood (FR), is a half-sister to an incredible 15 winners.

The sire is bred on the golden cross in European trotting, being from a Love You (FR) mare, the same cross brilliant international performer Bold Eagle (FR) is bred on.

En Solitaire is represented by three yearlings at this year’s National Yearling Sale, all set to go under the hammer in the Christchurch sale ring.

Lot 200 is a colt by En Solitaire out of Springbank Ella (NZ), by Champion sire Sundon (USA). This Lot’s dam is a full sister to multiple Group One-winning trotter, Springbank Richard (NZ) (Sundon).
 

Volstead (USA) 

Volstead offers National Yearling Sale buyers the opportunity to secure genetics that have proven status in both Europe and North America.

An American bred, by leading sire Cantab Hall (USA), the trotter plied his trade on European racetracks racing at the elite level in a 23-race winning career.

Volstead comes into NZB Standardbred’s National Yearling Sale on a high note, after producing the highest priced trotting colt (A$95,000) at a recent yearling sale across the Tasman.

Just one Volstead yearling will be available for purchase at the National Standardbred Yearling Sale. Lot 192 is a filly out of Muscle Yankee (USA) mare Rosedorae (NZ). This Lot is a half-sister to Group One placegetter BD Khaosan (Angus Hall).

With 138 yearlings set to go under the hammer in Auckland and a further 277 in Christchurch, the action-packed week of inspections, parades and selling is set to appeal to buyers and investors, both locally and internationally.

All unbroken yearlings purchased at the 2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale are eligible for the lucrative $1million dollar Harness Million Sale Race Series.

2022 marks the debut of the pre-NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale meeting, with a mega race night of six Group or Listed races confirmed for Alexandra Park on the eve of the Sale. Starting at the later than usual time of 7:30PM (NZT), the Harness Million Series meeting will be held on Saturday 12 February 2022, before selling commences at Karaka on Sunday.

Buyers can purchase confidently with all yearlings inspected during the on-farm parades. NZB Standardbred and New Zealand based-agents and trainers are available to inspect on behalf of prior to the Sale and on the grounds at the Karaka Sales Centre and Canterbury Agricultural Park.

Buyers who cannot physically attend the Sale are encouraged to participate via NZB’s user-friendly online bidding platform. Register for online bidding here.

New Zealand-based buyers and agents will be required to pre-register in order to physically attend the sale sessions held in Auckland and Christchurch. Domestic purchasers can apply to physically attend that Sale here.

View the full catalogue online here.