Breeding Matters - Yearling Sales Edition January 2022 - story by Jonny Turner
Arden Lodge's John and Judy Stiven will go from the thrills of watching their rising star of the NZ harness racing ranks to offering several of his close relations at the 2022 National Yearling Sales.
The West Otago breeders return to Christchurch after enjoying another stellar year on the track with their stock, headed by South Coast Arden.
The Somebeachsomewhere pacer has been the rising star of the open class ranks, producing record-breaking Group One wins at the Harness Jewels and in the NZ Free-For-all during his rise to the very top of the country's open class ranks.
The Stiven family has the proudest of histories at the National Yearling Sales, priding themselves on selling strong, well-conformed stock that are made to be racehorses, rather than sales-ring show ponies.
Arden Lodge presents a three-quarter sister to South Coast Arden in Lot 407.
The Captaintreacherous yearling from black-type performer Southwind Arden offers buyers to chance a filly with a great pedigree.
"She is above average in terms of size and strongly put together," John Stiven said.
"She is a lovely filly and being three-quarter sister to South Coast Arden, she has all of the right attributes there, I would like to think."
If bidders go to war for Lot 407 those that miss out have the choice of three more yearlings from South Coast Arden's family.
They include a colt by Downbytheseaside from the pacer's grand-dam and the Stiven's broodmare gem Winter Rose.
"The Downbytheseaside colt is a stunner," Stiven said.
"He is quite tall, he is probably a bit like Bettor's Strike in some ways."
"Judy named him Handsome Arden when he was a wee fellow and he is very handsome now."
Arden Lodge will also offer another close relation to South Coast Arden in Lot 390.
The January born Captaintreacherous colt is from Rocknroll Arden, a stakes -performing half-sister to Southwind Arden.
The Stivens will also offer a colt from freshman sire Fear The Dragon from Arden's Rose, another mare from the great Winter Rose family. Lot 249 is one of two Fear The Dragon yearlings Arden Lodge will offer. Lot 232 is a Fear The Dragon filly from Artsplace mare Ardenart.
"Fear The Dragon has done extremely well in North America," Stiven said.
"He has just about ticked off US $1 million from his first crop and right now (at the time of publication) he is ahead of Bettor's Delight, who is the next horse on the two year old sires list."
"To do that speaks volumes for the horse."
"The colt from Arden's Rose looks like he has everything in the right places, he is a lovely colt to look at."
"The filly we bred from Ardenart, we bred to get the same cross as Foiled Again who won US $7 million.
"If you want a lotto ticket for $7 million, then she is a good bet. "
"Her looks should sell her, she has modern bloodlines, ready to go."
Fear The Dragon is part of a strong fresh line up of sires represented in the Arden Lodge draft.
With Captaintreacherous, Lazarus, a Sweet Lou colt from Christian Cullen mare L'oiseau De Nuit (Lot 338) and an Always B Miki colt from Arden's Darlin (Lot 240) as well, it's a mix the Stivens think they have got right.
"When it comes to our stallion selections we like to set the trend rather than follow them."
"We have some modern bred yearlings on offer."
"We are pretty chuffed about this bunch."
The second of Arden Lodge's Captaintreacherous colts is also January born. Lot 213 is from Tricky Woman.
"He has got two millionaires on his page, but the page actually needs to be a bit bigger because they haven't been able to fit Dream About Me and Christen Me on it."
"He has bascially got four millionaires on his page close up."
"And he has got the new sensation in Western Australia, the Magnificent Storm close up in his pedigree as well."
The Stivens have one of the few Lazarus colts in the Christchurch sale Lot 383. He's from Real Wings, a descendant of super producer Maureens Dream.
Having descendants of Winter Rose, Scuse Me and Black Watch among their draft demonstrates the Arden Lodge strategy when it comes to broodmare selection and retention.
"A lot of our families have the New Zealand Broodmare Excellence award in their background."
"We have made a point of getting into those families over a period of time."
"the Lazarus colt is from Broodmare Excellence family of Maureens Dream."
"If he doesn't catch someone's eye, I don't know what will."
'He was an outstanding foal and he is a cracker yearling."
