As dawn broke on Day 2 of the NZB Standardbred National Sales the Arden Lodge team prepared itself for a busy day of getting ten pacing yearlings through the ring. Would the momentum from the Karaka Sales held the week previously continue despite the postponement due to the Covid situation and what sires would be popular with the buyers?
The trotting sale had got off to a good start the previous day when a trotting filly - a first for Arden Lodge- was sold. By What The Hill out of a Sundon mare Surfin Sunsation Lot 149 Celtic Arden was the highest priced yearling by the new sire. She was purchased by Diamond Racing.
Day 2 proved to be a mixture of results, with some disappointing sales and passed in horses and some selling better than expected. The buyers once again showed their preference for Bettor's Delight's progeny and Lot 249 Eminent Arden was the highest priced yearling of the Arden Lodge draft and the third highest priced filly of the sale. She is out of the Sukuntala family mare Tuapeka Art. She was purchased by Brent Mangos, Auckland.
The top priced Arden Lodge colt was Lot 268 by American Ideal out of an Artsplace mare Ardenart. He was the top priced American Ideal colt at the Christchurch sale, purchased by PI and GJ Kennard Bloodstock, Canterbury.
Lot 213 -a Sweet Lou colt from Rocknroll Arden did not sell through the ring but he has since been sold for above the average price of Sweet Lou yearlings sold in Christchurch to Mr SK Swain, Canterbury.
Two of the Captaintreacherous colts sold at above the sire's average price. The first of these, Lot 274, is from Arden's Darlin and he was purchased by Diamond Racing. His name is Venturesome Arden.
Lot 398 Capitaine Arden is a colt out of L'Oiseau De Nuit. He was purchased on Day 3 of the sale by Arna Donelly Harness Racing Stable Ltd, Waikato.
Arden Lodge had two fillies by the new sire Vincent for sale on Day 2. The Vincent filly out of Arden's Rockstar sold to Lincoln Farms Bloodstock, Auckland. She is Illustrious Arden Lot 281
The Vincent filly out of Young Tegan, Johanna Arden, did not reach her reserve price but she has been leased. Here she is getting familiar with her surroundings at Canterbury Agricultural Park.
The Art Major filly out of Real Wings, Lot 205, Divine Arden has been sold after auction to Mr SG Pulley, Canterbury.
Another Art Major filly, Lot 231, has been sold after being passed in to Ms KM Cox, Canterbury. Goldie Arden is out of Southwind Arden.
Lot 198 Perilous Arden is a young Captaintreacherous colt out of Raindowne, born on 11th January 2020. He was passed in and has returned to Arden Lodge.
First Choice Arden - a Bettor's Delight filly out of a Group One winning mare Arden's Choice, was also passed in after not meeting her reserve price and she is being retained and getting broken in.
Arden Lodge is pleased that the yearlings sold or leased are going to owners and trainers that will give them every opportunity to succeed. The average price sits fairly high up on the consignor's list of sales despite not having any Bettor's Delight colts, more fillies than colts, and a large number of new or fairly new sires. So they can be happy that things went well....despite the red sky in the morning.