May was a month that was mainly about working with the weaned foals, animal health, moving mares to the wintering block and retiring mares.
The three fillies and three colts have been weaned and have begun their education.
Arden's Sweetheart took out the Speights Summit Ultra Mobile Pace at Addington on 10th March 2022 for The 'Life's A Beach' Syndicate. The five year old mare by Sweet Lou out of Achieve A Dream is trained by Grant Payne and was beautifully driven by Tim Williams. She has now won on two occasions and has had two seconds and two thirds.
Click on the link to see the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNy0PAOVI5A
Early in May all of the mares and racehorses had a visit from equine dentist Josh Whittaker. Photo: 3 year old Indiana Arden (Panspacificflight/ Southwind Arden)
Some of the breeding mares have made their way to the wintering block at the foothills of the Blue Mountains. They will spend the winter here and go to Macca Lodge in the spring when they are close to foaling.
West Otago has had a very mild autumn and start to winter. The young ones being jogged have generally enjoyed good conditions.
Photo: 3 year old Arden's Treasure (Captaintreacherous/ Raindowne) and 2 year old Newbiemains Arden (Bettor's Delight/Tosca Hanover) jogging.
Yearling filly Fearlessly Arden (Fear The Dragon/ Ardenart) is at Arden Lodge. She is due to resume training in July.
Somebeachsomewhere gelding Arden's Reality ran second in his first start in Australia for his new owners. His dam Real Wings (Badlands Hanover/ Tuapeka Wings) has been sold. She has a very nice two year old Divine Arden who was sold at the 2021 yearling sales and a colt by Lazarus sold at this year's yearling sale. His new owners have renamed him Bad Habits. Her Captaintreacherous weanling filly is pictured here looking at the three colts over the fence. The dam of Captaintreacherous is Worldly Treasure and we have named this filly Worldly Arden.
It is disappointing for the Stivens that in addition to the name change of the Lazarus colt three other Arden bred horses have had name changes since being sold.
Arden's Bounty (Captaintreacherous/ Rocknroll Arden) is now called Rock The Captain. Handsome Arden (Downbytheseaside/ Winter Rose) has been renamed Taketheplunge, and Heroic Arden (Captaintreacherous/ Tricky Woman) is now called Tricky Captain.
The late Doug and late Noreen Stiven registered the name Arden with the New Zealand Conference in 1974 and to date very few people have changed the names the foals were given at registration.
Two year old Arden-bred Venturesome Arden (Captaintreacherous/ Arden's Darlin) qualified to race at Rangiora on 25th May. He is trained by RJ Dunn and Mrs JA Dunn at Woodend Beach for owners MR McKinnon and Mrs JLJ McKinnon. He was second at a workout in December 2021 and then won at a workout on May 18th. He finished fourth of five at the trial. He now heads to the paddock with the Diamond Racing Stable's other two year old qualifiers.
Two matriarchs of the Arden Lodge broodmare band have been retired - Tosca Hanover and Winter Rose have both been wonderful mares.
