Freshman Sires to Feature at Standardbred Weanling Sale

Investors will get the first opportunity to buy the progeny of an outstanding line up of freshman stallions at the 2023 NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale that is set to be held at the Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 25 May.

The stock of star racehorses turned sires Bettor’s Wish (USA), Ultimate Sniper (NZ) and Elite Stride (AUS) will be offered in New Zealand for the first-time next month.

Bettor’s Wish

Bettor’s Wish needs no introduction to Australasian harness racing fans despite his rookie status in the stallion ranks. 

The pacer’s incredible deeds as a three-year-old in North America were plastered across the media as he formed a formidable partnership with champion New Zealand reinsman Dexter Dunn.

A stakes winner at two, Bettor’s Wish went on a winning spree at three, banking an incredible US$1,700,000 on his way to being voted a clear-cut winner of the US Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt of The Year Award.

Bettor’s Wish returned at four-years-old to establish his dominance at free-for-all level in North America, being crowned the US Aged Male Pacing Horse of The Year before retiring with a scintillating 1.47.6 lifetime mark.

Macca Lodge will offer the only Bettor’s Wish weanling at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale.

Lot 29, a filly from Dudinka’s Angel (NZ) (Christian Cullen), is the first of her sire’s progeny to be offered at public auction in Australasia.
The filly is a three-quarter sister to the stakes performer Delightful Dude (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

Elite Stride

Elite Stride was destined to make his way to the breeding barn with his royal pedigree. The trotter’s incredible racetrack record then only made his appeal as a stallion even stronger. 

During that standout career, the blueblood trotter won or placed in 13 of his 14 starts. Elite Stride was a standout age-group performer, notching a Group One victory in the Need for Speed Prince Final and winning the time-honoured Group Two Holmfield Trot, as well as the Group Two NSW Derby.

Elite Stride’s progeny is blessed with the best in world renowned genetics given he is by dual-hemisphere siring champion Muscle Hill (USA) and from the blueblood mare Real Babe (USA), whose dam was million dollar earner in North America.

Alabar will offer six weanlings by Elite Stride who are among the first public offering by their sire in Australasia.

Lot 56, an Elite Stride colt from Letz Hope (NZ) (Pegasus Spur). The weanling is a half-brother to the good winner Zigzagzoo (NZ) (Majestic Son).

Among them is Lot 80, an Elite Stride colt from Philadelphia H (NZ) (Revenue). The colt’s second dam is champion trotting mare Martina H (NZ) (Sundon).

 

Ultimate Sniper

Ultimate Sniper will make his sales ring debut just a matter of kilometres from where he stamped his class as an incredible racehorse.

Following a dominant three-year-old season in which he won both the Group One New Zealand Derby and the Group One Northern Derby, Ultimate Sniper produced one of the most brilliant Interdominion series wins seen in recent times. 
The wonderful pacer showed incredible staying power when winning all his heats and the time-honoured Interdominion Pacing Grand Final at Alexandra Park.

Ultimate Sniper retired to stud to stand at Alabar, who offer the first of his progeny at public auction at Australasia.
Lot 73 is an Ultimate Sniper filly from the race-winning mare Nga Mihi Nui (NZ) (Big Jim). The filly is from the family of former star southern pacer Roman Gladiator (NZ) (Christian Cullen).

 

All weanlings purchased at the 2023 National Weanling Sale at Karaka are eligible to be entered for NZB Standardbred’s lucrative Harness Million Sales Race Series. The Series consists of principal two-year-old and three-year-old races for colts and geldings, fillies and trotters individually, where NZB Standardbred graduates can contest for their share in a one-million-dollar prize pool.

For international and domestic buyers wishing to physically attend the Sale, contact [email protected] for travel and accommodation enquiries, and special rates at the DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka hotel.

Phone and online bidding are a welcomed option for buyers who are unable to physically attend the Sale.

View the full 2023 National Standardbred Weanling Sale catalogue online here, with physical copies arriving in mailboxes soon.

For more information about the Sale contact NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray by calling +64 21 737 199 or email [email protected].