Southerners upbeat ahead of NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales

By Jonny Turner 

If Southern vendors have a spring in their steps at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales, there is good reason why.

Ahead of a strong draft heading north to Christchurch next week, a swag of trophies headed south after the New Zealand Harness Racing awards.

Among the most clear-cut of the category winners was Jumal, who took out the 2YO Pacing Colt Or Gelding Of The Year  just a matter of days before his full brother is offered at the national sales.

Breeder Dave Kennedy of Beaudiene Breeding (pictured above) sees similarities and a few minor differences between the siblings.

“He is going to be a touch bigger than Jumal, but they are very similar in the body.”

“He has really developed since the yearling sales tour last month, I am thrilled with him.”

“He is a lovely athletic type and a similar cut of a horse to Jumal, and he has a lovely nature.”

Jumal’s sire Downbytheseaside is the most strongly represented sire among the southern yearling sales contingent.

Beaudiene Breeding will offer another of the stallion’s progeny in a colt from Galleons Pleasure.

The youngster is a half-brother to the Southern Oaks winner Treacherous Gall.

“It is a breed that was established by Gary Allan and it has been good to people right across the country.”

“From up north to down here, with the likes of the ones Lester Smith has bred out of it.”

“He is a nicely put together colt, so he should go well.”

Genevieve Crawford, Havtime Breeding, White Stables and Arden Lodge also have Downbytheseaside’s progeny in their drafts.

Kyvalley Ray took out the trotting equivalent of Jumal’s award in the 2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding Of The Year.

The Australian-trained star was bred and sold by Phil and Bev Williamson, who will offer colts by Volstead and Timoko at this year’s sales.

From the same maternal family of the famed Kenny breed, Phil Williamson can see similarities between Kyvalley Ray and his Volstead colt from Our Golden Kenny.

“He is a lovely horse and quite similar to the one we sold two years ago, Kyvalley Ray,” Williamson said.

“I am thrilled with him, he is well put together and just a nice animal.”

The Williamsons’ Timoko colt is a half-brother to Harry Stamper, who has won at Group 1 level after being bred, raced and sold by the Oamaru couple.

“He is a little bit bigger than the other fellow, but he is a nice horse too.”

“His half-brother won as a two-year-old and went on and did a nice job.”

“I am happy with both horses, you just have to hope the next week goes smoothly and they get up to Christchurch in good order.”

“Anything can happen on the day, but we are hopeful we have two nice horses that will sell well.”

Southerners Todd and Fleur Anderson will also be looking for strong sales results on the back of a win at the New Zealand Harness Racing Awards.

Their broodmare Imaginary Bet, owned under their Taffy Ltd banner, took out Pacing Broodmare Of The Year.

The Andersons will offer a colt from the mare among their draft, which is being prepared in Canterbury by Laura Smith.

Taffy Ltd topped last year’s Christchurch sale with their $270,000 result for their Captaintreacherous colt from Imagine Me. 

Perhaps the anomaly of the southern yearling sales contingent is the lack of representation by recently crowned Breeders Of The Year, John and Katrina Price.

After outstanding results on the track, led by Horse Of The Year Republican Party, as well as at recent sales, the couple do not have any stock entered in 2026.

Around 300 yearlings will be go under the hammer, starting at Karaka on Monday (Feb 16) and then at Christchurch on Wednesday (Feb 18).