Most harness racing enthusiasts in New Zealand headed to the sales this week at both Auckland and Christchurch and a lot took home a yearling or two.
With the dust just settling on the two days at the Premier Sale in Christchurch, we thought it a good time to assess the performance of our leading sires at that sale along with a few of the other sires who aspire to reach that level.
All the numbers used are correct at the present time but may vary slightly as more of the passed in horses are sold post sale
The elephant in the room in any review such as this is of course Bettor's Delight.
He just completely dominated both days at Christchurch both in numbers sold and the average over the two days.
Bettor's Delight
Number sold – 49
Overall average – $51,091
Colt average – $56,645
Filly average – $34,291
The surprising thing from those statistics is the big gap between his colts and his fillies.
Bettor's Delight is renowned for leaving great fillies so to us the gap was surprising.
Apart from that what can you say.
A great sire who continues to dominate the sales and nothing happened in the two days at Christchurch to suggest that any change to the status quo is coming anytime soon.
The next most successful sire with big numbers was the stallion that Bettor's Delight dethroned from the top spot in the yearling sales averages in Christian Cullen.
His numbers held up well considering all the challengers he is facing on the siring front.
Christian Cullen
Numbers sold – 18
Overall average – $37,611
Colt average – $40,133
Filly average – $25,000
Considering where his service fee presently sits, Christian Cullen represents great value on yesterdays results and that is not something we were able to say just a few years ago.
Every year the pundits predict his demise as a sire of significance but every year the buyers continue to put their hand up for the Christian Cullens and for big money to boot.
Another elite sire who had a good sale was Mach Three.
Mach Three
Numbers sold – 20
Overall average – $30,700
Colt average – $32,062
Filly average – $29,791
This was one sire who had little difference in the average between his fillies and his colts.
The top price of $71,000 was the same for both his best filly and colt and most of the leading trainers brought one or two by him.
Has been doing a great job over the last few years but is probably overdue another high class colt in the next twelve months or else the so called experts will be suggesting his best days are behind him.
American Ideal
Numbers sold – 22
Overall average – $15,681
Colt average – $19,166
Filly average – $11,500
Considering the great last twelve months that his stock have had on the racetracks of Australasia, it was a real surprise to us and no doubt to vendors as well that he struggled as much as he did.
Even more confusing was the lack of interest in his fillies when they have been his flag bearers in New Zealand over the last twelve months.
Sometimes there is a lag in racetrack performance being converted into sales success and to us that is the most logical explanation here.
Courage Under Fire
Numbers sold – 8
Overall average – $32,375
Colt average – $34,857
Filly average – $16,000
Just continues to fly under the radar of most of the breeders in New Zealand but not the buyers thats for sure.
Only sold one filly so that average is misleading but his colts were highly sought after throughout the two days.
Has shown repeatedly that he can compete with any sire in the sales ring but his number of mares served in New Zealand continue to decline.
He only served nineteen mares in 2014 so some vendors who have a foal by him may be in for a good return at next years sales.
Art Major
Numbers sold – 14
Overall average – $29,600
Colt average – $28,833
Filly average – $30,187
Considering the run that Art Major is having on both sides of the Tasman, the lack of big money for most of his yearlings took us by surprise.
He did have one six figure filly but his second best yearling price wise only made $45,000.
Didn't appear to us to be anything amiss with the yearlings in question and the only answer we could come up with was they weren't Bettor's Delights.
Amazing result really when you look at the super season his three year olds are having in New Zealand
Somebeachsomewhere
Numbers sold – 5
Overall average – $48,000
Colt average – $55,000
Filly average – $20,000
First crop of any size in New Zealand and these yearlings were conceived via fresh semen.
Without exception they were good looking types and were keenly sought after.
Going by the type of yearling produced by Somebeachsomewhere at this years sales, we could be about to see why the North Americans hold the son of Mach Three in such high esteem.
Rock N Roll Heaven
Numbers sold – 4
Overall average – $30,250
Colt average – $40,000
Filly average – $20,500
They all were nice types but what surprised us was his only filly made just $20,500.
The fillies have been the ones flying the flag for Rock N Roll Heaven in North America and in Australasia so the emphasis on the colts was a surprise.
Look very much like clones of their grand sire Rock N Roll Hanover which is a good thing in our book though attitude did seem an issue at times with a couple of them.
Sportswriter
Numbers sold – 5
Overall average – $26,300
Colt average – $27,625
Filly average – $21,000
The whole five of them were lovely types and we thought they under sold when you looked at the pedigrees and the individuals at the sale.
All of them made at least $20,000 but only one kicked on from that to make $46,000.
There are question marks over whether he can leave that elite level colt or filly but you couldn't fault the yearlings in Christchurch and we were a touch disappointed with the prices they made.
Changeover
Numbers sold – 10
Overall average – $11,550
Colt average – $12,333
Filly average – $10,375
Not the kind of sale he would have been looking for.
He had his moments but his lack of classic winning horses from his first crop is starting to hurt him.
All he needs is one or two top liners to appear and his stock will double in value over night.
His overall numbers are great and everything else is on track but he does need those couple of stars and sooner rather than later.
Love You
Numbers sold – 4
Overall average – $28,875
Colt average – $28,875
A great result for a trotting sire to have four average over $28,000.
They were keenly sought after when ever a Love You entered the ring.
The only issue now is he only served 13 mares in 2014 and was unavailable this season so there will few of them at the sales in the next year or two.
Muscle Mass
Numbers sold – 13
Overall average – $16,923
Colt average – $16,625
Filly average – $17,400
A great return to New Zealand for the son of Muscles Yankee and he had a big sale considering his numbers and the fact some of the maternal families were ok but not sensational.
A sire who is really on the up in North America but the only downside is this is his only crop in New Zealand to go through the sales and at this stage it will be his last as he hasn't shuttled for the last two years.
Overview
All the sires we have reviewed would in the main be satisfied with what they achieved at this years Premier sale in Christchurch.
Some probably hoped to do a bit better and some probably did a bit better than they thought they would but the numbers for the sires we have covered are commendable.
Some sires at this years Christchurch sales that we haven't reviewed here didn't help the overall sale on any level and you would have to question the value of continuing to present stock by them at what is meant to be a "Premier" sale.
Harnesslink Media