Leading Sires Underpin NZB’s 2019 National Yearling Sale

A strong contingent of 31 of the best sires available to the New Zealand breeding industry are set to feature throughout the upcoming New Zealand National Standardbred Yearling Sale.

Pacing Sires Set to Delight

Champion Sire Bettors Delight continued to deliver outstanding results on the racetrack last season earning the title of Leading Pacing Sire for the seventh consecutive year on the local scene. His major contributors featured New Zealand Horse of the Year Lazarus (NZ), Elle Mac (NZ), Ultimate Machete (NZ), Another Masterpiece (NZ), Jesse Duke (NZ), Pats Delight (NZ) and Sheriff (NZ).

With 200 individual winners scoring 392 races in New Zealand, they collectively earned just under $7 million in prizemoney. It was a similar trend in Australia with a new record of 400 individual winners for a new record of just under $12 million in prizemoney which completed Bettors Delight pre-eminence in Australasia and the Leading Pacing Sire for the seventh consecutive year in Australia.

The records continue to the sale ring with 118 yearlings by Bettors Delight catalogued for the Sale a record offering in itself. He has 36 lots in Auckland and 82 lots in Christchurch.

In a massive American influence, the first seven sires at the top of the 2YO Pacing Sires’ List in America this season to date will all be represented at the Sale in 2019.

Art Major, the sire of 11 individual winners who have earned $1 million or more, will be represented by a total of 56 yearlings.

Last year’s Leading 2YO and 3YO Pacing Sire, and Overall Leading Pacing Sire with earnings of more than US$23 million, Somebeachsomewhere, will have 25 yearlings offered at the Sale.

With an equal US$3 million in earnings to date in America, Leading 2YO Pacing Sire Captaintreacherous will be represented by his first New Zealand progeny with 15 lots catalogued.

Sitting in close contention to Captaintreacherous, Sweet Lou’s progeny have earned more than US$3 million in prizemoney to date to place him second on the Leading 2YO Pacing Sires’ List. He will have 13 yearlings on offer at the Sale.

Other pacing sires of note include American Ideal (23 lots catalogued), Sportswriter (17), Rock N Roll Heaven (15), Mach Three (13 - the last of his commercial crop to go through the ring), A Rocknroll Dance (11), He’s Watching (10), Roll With Joe (six), Auckland Reactor (five), Terror to Love (three) and Sunshine Beach (two).

Need for Trotting Speed

The straight-out trotter has made huge strides in recent seasons and the 2019 National Yearling Sale is set to step up with a tremendous line-up and atmosphere.

Enhance Your Clam (NZ), Winterfell (NZ) and Valloria (NZ) were the leading performers for the 2017-18 Leading Sire of Trotters in both New Zealand and Australia, Majestic Son. With 56 individual winners in New Zealand and another 56 individual winners in Australia, his progeny earned just under $1.4 million and $1.6 million in prizemoney respectively. There will be eight of Majestic Son’s progeny catalogued in February – one lot in Auckland and seven lots in Christchurch.

Muscle Hill, who is widely regarded as the greatest trotter of the modern era, is heading for his third consecutive Trotting Sires Premiership in America with his progeny in the southern hemisphere also performing at the elite level. There will be six of his yearlings available to secure at the upcoming Sale.

Twice-crowned New Zealand Leading Sire of Trotters, with progeny like Monbet (NZ), Great Things Happen (NZ) and Enghein (NZ), the first commercial crop in New Zealand from Love You will be on offer at the Sale with 16 yearlings catalogued.

Muscle Mass was the world champion trotter as a two-year-old and has passed on his speed to many of his progeny including Custodian (NZ) and Heavyweight Hero (NZ). He will be represented by 12 yearlings at the Sale.

The fastest son of Champion Sire Cantab Hall, Father Patrick, will offer his first southern hemisphere crop at the upcoming Christchurch Sale with a draft of seven yearlings.

The sire of Australasia’s fastest trotter in Maori Time, and the likes of Speeding Spur (NZ), Pegasus Spur will have an offering of four yearlings in February.

Other trotting sires of note include Angus Hall (three lots catalogued), Quaker Jet (three), Andover Hall (two), Peak (two), Bacardi Lindy (one), Master Glide (one), Orlando Vici (one), Sebastian K (one), Trixton (one) and Windsong Espoir (one).

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Auckland Sale at Karaka – click here to view catalogue

Day 1 will commence on Sunday 17 February with parades of trotting and pacing yearlings from 2.30pm.

Day 2 will see the first of the yearlings going under the hammer with sale of 145 Trotters and Pacers commencing at 10.30am.

Christchurch Sale at Canterbury Agricultural Park – click here to view catalogue

Day 3 will kick-off on Tuesday 19 with parades of Trotters from 11.00am and parades of Fillies and Colts from 11.45am. Selling will then commence at 4.00pm with 50 Trotters.

Wednesday 20 will see the final yearlings go through the ring with the sale of 206 Pacers from 10.00am.