Tuesday, 4 June 2013 by Matt Smith courtesy of Otago Daily Times
Some standardbred stallions make their mark in New Zealand courtesy of a battling maiden win by one of their progeny in a leisurely time.
Not Somebeachsomewhere, though. His first winner in New Zealand came at Ashburton on Sunday in remarkable fashion, with a little help from a mare in Tapanui.
The result of the pair's coupling is Someardensomewhere, who blew the New Zealand 2yr-old 2400m mobile record to pieces at Ashburton, recording a time of 2.56.3.
The 1.58.2 mile-rate win was 3.6sec below the previous record held jointly by Joshua Mac and another Tapanui-bred gelding, Ideal Arden.
Arden Lodge owner John Stiven - whose late mother, Noreen, bred the gelding from Christian Cullen mare L'Oiseau De Nuit - was on course to watch his young gelding create history, but he was not expecting such an exceptional time.
''If he had gone three minutes and won, we'd have been rapt,'' Stiven said.
''He's always looked good, but he got gelded after he had a couple of preparations, and he had some trouble gelding, which held him back for some of his 2yr-old year.
But it could be a bit of a blessing in disguise and give him a bit more time.''
Stiven has introduced some friends and family to harness racing through Someardensomewhere by setting up The Beach Syndicate.
''We've got a couple of people in Christchurch, Timaru, Central Otago, some from around home [Tapanui] and some from further south.
''It's the first horse we've syndicated. Two of them have had horses before, and the rest are all new to the game - it's very exciting.''
The Mark Purdon-trained gelding drew on the outside of the second line in the field, but driver Blair Orange punched him through a gap early and he took over the lead with a lap to go to stroll home by 1 lengths. A tilt at the big 3yr-old races are in store next.
''He's coming home on Tuesday and [Mark Purdon] will point him towards the Sires Stakes [in November].
Stiven and his mother both decided on Somebeachsomewhere for L'Oiseau De Nuit and it has paid off immediately, with Stiven keen to send more mares to the Canadian-bred sire if he returns to New Zealand.
''I'm stoked - I'm his biggest fan,'' he said.
''We sent two mares and got one in foal and we were lucky enough to get this guy.''
The record win was the high point of a good weekend, with Rocknroll Arden running a bold third in the 2yr-old diamond.
''She went really good - she was just a wee bit stiff with the draw.''
A good draw also eluded Southwind Arden, who finished seventh in her final race, the 5yr-old Diamond on Sunday.
''She's going to the broodmare paddock. She was just a victim of the draw and the good time. I'm very proud of her efforts over the years.''