First NZB Standardbred Graduates Take Flight

The first crop of graduates sold through NZB Standardbred’s inaugural National Standardbred Yearling Sales are set to compete this Friday in heat one of the Young Guns Series (1700m). A highly anticipated event sponsored by Breckon Farms, the Young Guns Series provides a great platform for the juveniles as they embark on their racing career.

There are 10 acceptors for the first Young Guns Series heat held at Alexandra Park this Friday evening at 7.42pm. Eight of them are graduates of NZB Standardbred’s 2019 Yearling Sale.  

The representation of sires is led by champion sire Bettor’s Delight, who has three starters competing on Friday evening. In the Kennard, Breckon, Woodham and Gibbs ownership, First Class (Bettor’s Delight x Amaretto Bromac) was purchased from the draft of Rosedale Farm for $50,000, while Krug (Bettor’s Delight x Champagne Princess) won both trials after being purchased from Smolenski Stables for $155,000. Canterbury-trained Black Edition (Bettor’s Delight x Simply Devine) was purchased by Mr R Reddy for $100,000 from Studholme Bloodstock Ltd. 

Captaintreacherous who topped the 2YO US Sires list also has three in the field including Platinum Stride (Captaintreacherous x Southwind Arden) purchased by E & M Stride from the draft of Arden Lodge for $82,500. It’s All About Faith (Captaintreacherous x Veste), owned by Mark & Dennis Dunford was purchased by All Stars Racing Stables for $130,000 out of the Breckon Farms Draft. Captain Nemo (Captaintreacherous x Arden Caviar) is raced by Lincoln Farms Bloodstock after selling for $110,000 out of the Price Bloodstock draft.

 Also in the field is Vincent Van Gone (Sportswriter x Runaway Star), passed in for $12,000 at the 2019 Sale.  

Two-year-olds colts, geldings and fillies compete in heats worth $25,000 each, with the Group One and Two final’s held in March 2020 at the Auckland Cup. Following the Young Guns Series, graduates will have their sights set on the lucrative NZB Harness Million Series, New Zealand Sires’ Stakes and Harness Jewels races. 

In 2019, New Zealand Bloodstock’s first-ever National Standardbred Yearling Sale delivered phenomenal results across all key figures at the close of trading. The aggregate soared to $12,360,000 for 299 lots sold over three days. The average and media both climbed to great heights reaching $41,338 and $30,000 respectively. 

The 2020 National Standardbred Yearling Sale will be held over four days of sensational selling in Auckland at Karaka during the 16th & 17th of February and in Christchurch at Canterbury Agricultural Park on the 18th & 19th of February in 2020. 

View the full catalogue online here.