Record-breaking afternoon at Karaka Yearling Sales

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Industry heavyweights Stonewall Stud has gone on a record-breaking buying spree on the opening day of the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Karaka this afternoon.

Steve Stockman has been a big buyer at yearling sales before but this was something else.

He paid $360,000 for Lot 70, a Captaintreacherous - Adore Me colt and then minutes later forked out another $360,000 for Lot 73, a Captaintreacherous- Bettor Twist, setting a new NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales record.

Both eclipsed the previous record, the $340,000 outlaid for Don't Stop Dreaming's full brother at Christchurch last year.

Lot 70 was offered up by Woodlands Stud and is Adore Me's first colt and her first foal to be offered publicly while Lot 73, from Breckon Farms, is a Captaintreacherous colt out of the multiple Group 1-winning Bettor Twist. Adore Me won the 2014 New Zealand Cup and was a $1.6m earner.

Also attracting plenty of interest and spirited bidding was Lot 106, a bay colt by Next Gen sire Face Time Bourbon from Dance Craze. It was the first yearling sold at the sales by the Victorian-based Yabby Dam Farms.

Hall of Fame trainer Barry Purdon was the successful bidder, outlaying $240,000.

More than a dozen Net Gen yearlings were sold, including Lot 65, a Bold Eagle - Tickle Me Pink colt bought by Ferguson Racing for $90,000.

To find out more about Next Gen, HRNZ's new ownership initiative,  click here 

Earlier Stonewall Stud paid $150,000 on Lot 17, a Tactical Landing - Love Ya Doosie colt, another of the Breckon Farms draft.

Hayden Cullen went to the same money for Lot 83, a Downbytheseaside - Bettor Be A Lady colt, as did Philip Kennard for Lot 93, a Captaintreacherous - Delightful Kas colt. 

Next week the sales head to Christchurch with another 213 yearlings under the hammer on Tuesday. 

More to come