Joey Arden continues commercial family success

Joey Arden (Race Images)

Joey Arden, a game two-year-old winner at Addington during the week just ended, is another positive notch in the belt of former Kiwi champion Lazarus.

Bred by the Stivens from Tapanui and bought out of the paddock by Stonewall Stud, the gelding is from the unraced Somebeachsomewhere mare Crackabeach.

Breeder John Stiven is a big fan of Somebeachsomewhere and his progeny and was able to acquire the mare from fellow Southland breeders Mark and Debbie Smith (Shard Farm) a couple of years ago.

Joey Arden is the mare's third live foal and third winner.

Stiven has a yearling colt by Tall Dark Stranger coming through, with the next weanling colt, Bobby Arden, by Confederate, likely to be consigned to the Christchurch Yearling Sale in 2027.

Crackabeach has been served by champion sire Bettor's Delight in the most recent breeding season.

She, of course, is a daughter of Impish (Falcon Seelster – Smarty Pants), connecting her and her progeny to one of the most commercial modern families currently in the breeding barn.

Eleven of Impish's 13 foals qualified to race, with The Fascinator (10 wins + $155,000) arguably her best performer on the track, but her daughters have taken this family to another level.

Giveitawhirlgirl (by Jenna's Beach Boy) raced without winning but went on to leave Twist And Twirl (7 wins), who became the dam of three-time Miracle Mile winner King Of Swing and multiple Group-winning filly Better Twist (15 wins + $607,000).

Double Twist (by Artsplace) has left two $100,000-plus winners in her first two foals, Double Time and Twista, while Twisted Sister won as a two-year-old in just two starts before injury curtailed a highly promising career.

Spin To Win (by Mach Three) has had her first four foals all salute, with Wheels Of Fortune (6 wins to date) and Slots (7 wins to date) carrying the family banner in some style.

Next dam back Smarty Pants (El Patron – Smart Doll) won 10 races herself and produced a number of very good horses for the late Peter Van Der Looy.

Vanderel (14 wins) and Smart Son immediately come to mind, with the latter one of the very first New Zealand-bred horses to break the magical 1:50 barrier in North America.

This has been, and continues to be, a very prolific source of winning Standardbreds.

Rob Courtney The Breeders News 16 July 2026