Big-spending trainers got a look at some of the leading yearlings from the lower South Island during the Southern Bred Southern Reared yearling tour last week. Matt Smith tagged along for the Otago portion to check out the yearlings before they appear in the sales ring at Christchurch today and tomorrow.
As far as heavy hitters in harness racing go, the bus on the Southern Bred Southern Reared yearling tour last week was packed.
Tour regulars Cran Dalgety, Ken Barron and Ray Green were joined by a trio of owners with the All Stars Stables - Phil Kennard, Neil Pilcher and Trevor Casey - and a bunch of younger trainers such as Gavin Smith, John Dunn and Tom Bagrie.
The tour attracted 33 industry participants, up by about eight on last year, and was buoyed by good numbers entered for the sales by the studs visited.
Arden Lodge in Tapanui has been riding on the crest of a wave after Arden Rooney's New Zealand Cup win and proprietor John Stiven is pleased with the two colts and one filly he takes to Christchurch for the second day of the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale tomorrow.
Asked if he could put one of the yearlings above the other two, Stiven opted for lot 482, a colt by Rock N Roll Heaven out of Arden's Darlin.
"He's just a standout. He's out of a 2yr-old filly of the year, and the Rock N Roll Heavens are coming up good now, so we're excited about him. He's a lovely colt.''
Arden Lodge's draft is rounded out by Liberal Arden - a Sir Lincoln colt out of Ardenart - and a Shadow Play filly named Arden's Silhouette.
"They're looking good and we've had good comments after talking to some of these guys today. The Sir Lincoln one could be a surprise package.''
Tuapeka Lodge has been taking yearlings to the sale for 49 years.
And, in its 50th year, the lodge will consign its biggest draft, with 10 yearlings sale-bound.
Co-proprietor Peter Cummings said the family had been selling at the sales since 1967, all the more remarkable in that their yearlings largely trace back to just two families.
Cummings expects lots 353 Southern Rain (an American Ideal-Raindowne filly) and Real Eagle (an American Ideal-Real Wings colt) to garner plenty of attention when they go through the ring, as should Nuclear Way (Somebeachsomewhere-Atom Queen colt) and Culpeka (Mach Three-Tuapeka Maddy colt).
Nuclear Way will enter the ring as lot 509, just two lots after a potential standout from Glenbrook Park Standardbreds' impressive yearling Robinson Crusoe.
The colt by Somebeach-somewhere is out of Asabella, who has produced six-figure yearlings for the last two sales.
An Art Major colt sold for $170,000 in 2014, and now races as (Sir) Major Stride, while a Bettor's Delight colt sold last year for $200,000 and qualified last month under the name Elderberry Stride.
Graeme Mee, the co-preparer for the Glenbrook Farm draft, thinks highly of Hit The Sky (Mach Three-Princess Of Diamond colt), and My Mate Ben could add to the line of well-performed pacers out of Cartier.
The first foal out of 2012 Harness Jewels winner Pembrook's Delight should also attract interest.
Beach Boy is by Somebeachsomewhere and is a compact yearling.
