Tayler Strong- Courtesy of the Southland Times
Apr 19 2015
Southland and Otago owner-breeders were in Auckland to enjoy the Group I wins of Arden's Choice in the $119,000 Caduceus Classic and Mossdale Conner in the $100,000 Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The same night the Southland-bred Beaudience Boaz won the $200,000 Western Australian Derby. The trio of Group I winners are out of mares by In The Pocket.
Beaudience Boaz (Badlands Hanover-Beaudiene Babe), bred by Dave Kennedy, of Bayswater, has won seven of his eight starts since he was sold to Perth after winning a Harness Jewels race at Cambridge last May.
Mossdale Conner, owned and bred by Archie Affleck , of Riversdale, scorched over 1700m from the mobile gate in a New Zealand record 1.51.7 mile rate with a superb front running display.
Arden's Choice, raced by John and Judy Stiven, of Tapanui with first time owners Les and Lynette Roseveare, of Crookston, easily won the Caduceus Classic.
Arden's Choice was bred by John's mother, the late Noreen Stiven from a mating of Panspacificflight and Winter Rose. The frozen semen of Panspacificflight was brought to New Zealand from the United States by the Macca Lodge stud of Brent and Sheree McIntyre at Wendonside. Arden's Choice is from his second New Zealand crop.
Arden's Choice, trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, is in the $150,000 Sires' Stakes Final on Friday night.
Winter Rose has also left the Group I winner Bettor's Strike (Victoria Cup). The Arden Lodge stud operated by the Stivens also bred
(Bettor's Delight-Tosca Hanover) who has followed up his win in the Group I Hunter Cup at Melton in February with success in the Terang, Geelong and Mildura Cups.