The Northern edition of the Yearling Inspection Days took place this week, as a preview to the upcoming inaugural 2019 New Zealand National Standardbred Yearling Sale, at Karaka, Auckland, on the 18th February.
North Island vendors held their open days on Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd of January, giving potential buyers the opportunity to view 103 of the 143 catalogued yearlings, or 72% of those on offer at the sale.
The tour visited yearling preparers Alta Dream Lodge, Claire McGowan, Hollis & Robertson Equine and Woodlands Stud, on the Tuesday, before visiting Tardina Stud, Brogden Lodge, several lots at the Cambridge Track and concluding at Breckon Farms on the Wednesday.
This tour is always a great opportunity to view the yearlings prior to the actual parade and sale days and many prominent trainers and buyers took advantage of this.
Those in attendance included Brent Mangos, Jill Stockman, Scott Plant, Allan Nicolson, Jamie MacKinnon, Jim & Ann Gibbs, Jack Moore, Peter & Dylan Ferguson, Ken Barron, John Dunn, Gavin Smith, Greg Payne, Emilio & Mary Rosati, Michael House, Regan Todd, Grant Payne, Cran & Carter Dalgety, Phil Kennard, Ray Green, Grant Enyon, Brian Hughes, Mike Berger, John & Terese Screen, Brent and Sue Donnelly, Andrew and Lyn Neal, as well as many owners.
The tour was very capably led once again by New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred Manager Peter Lagan, who with his wealth of knowledge provided an excellent commentary for all participants.
The South Island trainers were transported by minibus and they were joined by other prospective buyers, travelling from Waiau Pa, to Pukekohe, to Brookby, to Mangatawhiri, to Matangi, to Cambridge and to Ohaupo, throughout their journey, along with many invited guests at Breckon Farms.
Very positive feedback was received from the participants, many commenting on the very high quality and standard of horses presented
Tour leader Peter Lagan said, “This is a very nice draft. They all have been well raised and they have done well too. They should sell well at the sales. There are some beautifully bred trotters too and they’ll sell well I’m sure. There has already been a good response from the people who were looking.”
The catalogue for the NZ National Standardbred Yearling Sale this year is rated by most as being very strong, so the Parade Day on Sunday the 17th February and the Sale Day on Monday the 18th February, held at the world class NZ Bloodstock Karaka Sales Complex will be much anticipated. The Breckon Farms draft is reduced in size this year, but certainly not in quality and this was the final stop on the tour. Some 78 guests assembled, the most people of all the stops on the tour and they were provided by Breckon Farms with a delicious gourmet lunch including roast pork and beef rolls as well as pizzas, with the parade being conducted very efficiently and with many very positive comments once again made by those present.
All the trainers and buyers present made the most of the opportunity to inspect individual lots after the parade and had a little time to review the yearlings they had seen.
LOT 132
Prominent Canterbury trainer Cran Dalgety, travelling on the minibus, commented on the Breckon Farms Draft, saying, “They look great. They all have good cover and are well-rounded. They’ve certainly had a good start to life. They look great. Every year the presentation gets better and better, but I can’t believe how much better than last year they look.”
Breckon Farms wishes all vendors and purchasers the best of luck at the Sales and like everyone, will be looking forward to following the careers of those colts and fillies sold, as they start their path towards possible fame and fortune on the racetrack.
You can view the Breckon Farms draft, together with photos and videos here or visit NZB Standardbred website for the complete Sales catalogue.
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