NEW ZEALAND STANDARDBRED SALES – PART TWO

The first part of this article covered the periods both before (pre 1944) and after (1944 – 1986) the first national Yearling sales in New Zealand looking at the various companies that held public auctions of standardbred stock.

1987 to current period principally covering sales activities of PGG/PGG Wrightson’s Standardbred Division –

The last three decades have been the preserve of PGG Wrightson‘s Standardbred division, established in 1987 by Bruce Barlass and Peter Lagan, both well known in the industry throughout Australasia.

The mid to late 1980’s through until early 1990’s could be considered the preserve of the companies, syndicates and partnerships established for the purposes of breeding Standardbred horses. Names such as David Phillips National Bloodstock (breeding companies – Meadowlands, Roosevelt, Cardigan Bay, Indianapolis, Albatross, Voyager), Nevele R Stud/Fay Richwhite (Addington/Alexandra breeding), Kenwood Breeding partnerships (Charlie Hunter/Brian Meale), Yonkers Breeding partnerships (Brian West), Curtin’s Farms (Johnny Globe Breeding), South Taranaki Bloodstock (John and Gavin O’Dea) among others featured.

This period saw dizzy heights reached in terms of outrageous sale prices especially when compared to the stakes levels at that time, sales that were not concluded and a number of ill-fated empires that came crashing down. It was then that reality returned to the industry including yearling sales prices becoming realistic.

The highest ever price achieved to date at a yearling sale in NZ was recorded at Addington in 1987 when the grouping of Curtins Farms and South Taranaki Bloodstock successfully bid $340,000 for the filly Roydon Reign (Smooth Fella/Roydon Dream), bred by Roydon Lodge Stud. Unraced, she left twelve foals for seven moderate winners, fastest being Princess Regal (1:57.0US, $54,703) while Smooth Babe won the most with fourteen AUS wins (11 SA including 9 at Globe Derby, 3 WA), $43,866, 1:59.6.

Pyne Gould Guinness (PGG Wrightson from 2006) –

PGG/PGG Wrightson have been the hosting company for both the New Zealand Premier Yearling Sales and Australasian Classic Yearling Sales over the past thirty years.The period prior to the mid-1990’s saw a number of other companies still offering their services to conduct standardbred sales, post that period PGG/PGG Wrightson have been the only company available through which to sell standardbreds at public auction. This has led to the longevity and consistency of a unified sale presided over by an independent company not aligned to anyvendors or purchasers.

The sales venue for the NZ Premier Yearling Sale remained at the A&P Showgrounds, Addington, until 1996 when the A&P Association acquired a 250 acre (145ha) block of land on Curletts Road, Wigram from the Christchurch City Council.

Following the move to the Curletts Rd facility, the 1997 and 1998 Christchurch yearling sales were held at Addington Raceway, using the old stabling and grassed car park areas of the course, raising a temporary marquee as a sales ring. In 1999, a move to the Agricultural Park, at Curletts Road (also used for Autumn broodmare and all aged sales and thoroughbred sales each year) was made thus maintaining the lengthy partnership held with the A&P Association. Although a number of enhancements have been made over the past two decades, these facilities are not comparable to the NZ Bloodstock complex at Karaka, South Auckland which are used for the Australasian Classic Yearling Sales,

Details of NZ Premier/Australasian Classic sales lots etc from 1988 to date are contained in the table below.

PGG/PGG Wrightson Annual Yearling Sales Summary (note Australasian Classic Sales 1988 – 1991 John F Jones; 1991 ID’s PGG ran an Interdominion sale as well) ** –

** Table shows lots catalogued; number of yearlings offered after withdrawals and sold excluding buy backs; percentage sold compared to offered. 2008 – 2011 sales consisted of three days, stats shown above for two Premier Days only – total lots catalogued over three days were 2008 (499), 2009 (537), 2010 (537), 2011 (404).

Someof the developments over the past three decades of NZPremier and Australasian Classic salesare outlinedbelow :

1988 – inaugural NZ Premier Yearling Sale held at Addington Showgrounds where they would remain until after the 1996 sales. The South Island Select sale also formed part of this particular auction. Best presented categories for fillies and colts were mentioned for the first time in thatyear’s catalogue. The 1989 sales were run over two days with day one being an unreserved Premier sale of 146 lots and the second day being SI Select sale of 145 lots compared to the original 410 yearlings nominated.

1991 – final NBC International Classic sales series races conducted during the Auckland Interdominions.The Interdominon Yearling sale held on Sunday 10 March with a broodmare and all aged sale on Monday 11 March.

The first Australasian Classic sale run by PGG held at Karaka was in 1992 (1988 – 1991 John F Jones ran these NI sales),also the running of the inaugural NZ Yearling Sales Series races to promote annual yearling sales (1992 : 2c&g, 2f, 2t; 1993 3 c&g, 3f, 3t; Northern Hemisphere Time [NHT] 1992 – 2014, since discontinued). The Sales Series is now into its twenty seventh year of running and in 1992 thirty five yearlings bred to NHT from the two 1991 Auckland sales (JF Jones Australasian Classic, Interdominion sale) and NZ Premier sale competed for the first time in a Yearling Sales Series race at Alexandra Park. This was also the first year PGG, NZ Trade Development Board and Breeders combined to attract Australian buyer interest (inward buyer scheme). The North Island Breeders Association instituted a leading SI buyer’s travel subsidy.

March 1995 Christchurch Interdominion broodmare sale (75 lots) was followed by a sale of rare books and publications (23 lots) – Trotting Annuals, Pillars of Harness Horsedom, Salute to Trotting (Limited Edition), Stud Books, bound Trotting Calendars and Harness Racing Weeklies. For the 1997 Australasian Classic Sale, the inaugural thirty two page yearling sales brochure titled “Winning Starts Here” was produced in full colour.

The late 1990’s/early 2000’s saw the initial purchases from the sales by the popular ATC (Auckland Trotting Club e.g. Matai McKenzie ATC 2000 Syndicate) and Met (NZ MetropolitanTrotting Club e.g. Likmesiah Met Two) syndicates. 2002 – first Southland Bred, Southland Reared consignment (collective marketing brand for Southland yearling breeders) to the NZ Premier sales with over 50 lots, 2003 (56 lots).

The 2006 yearling sales in Auckland and Christchurch were the first conducted under the PGG Wrightson standardbred division banner. The NZ Premier sales in 2008 – 2011 were conducted over three days, the first two days being the selected lots with the third day’syearlings effectively becoming “trainers” day for purchasing purposes. This meant that the Premier sale had to be run after the Auckland sales day as opposed to the alternate first/second date structure of earlier years. The dropping of the third day in 2012 meant the Christchurch sale went first but the Auckland sales have gone first since the 2013 sales.

The first day of the 2011 NZ Premier sale at Canterbury Agricultural Park will long be remembered for anything but the sale of horses. At 12.51pm, a little under an hour after selling had commenced, an earthquake registering 6.3 on the richter scale struck Christchurch resulting in the loss of 185 lives. Land and buildings shook violently at the Agricultural Park grounds but the only apparent immediate “damage” was to the nerves of on-site participants whichtooka severe beating.

Timing of the yearling sales has varied little over the past three decades – few late January, majority in February with Interdominion year sales in March (1991, 1995, 1999, 2011) and April (2003), many of which have been preceded by yearling sales tours in North Island (Waikato), Canterbury and more recently Southland. Both North Island and Canterbury branches of the Breeders Association have been responsible for an assortment of social functions over the years to coincide with the sales – featuring Dinners and BBQ’s in particular.

The 2018 NZ Premier sales at Christchurch on Tuesday/Wednesday 13/14 February will herald a change in format from prior years. Tuesday 13 February will feature a parade of all trotting yearlings (49) and pacing yearlings(66 fillies, 137 colts) from the main catalogue from late morning until mid-afternoon. This will be followed by a boutique sale of trotting bred yearlings commencing at 4pm with Steve Davis auctioneering the entire trotting consignment. Wednesday 14 February will showcase the pacing yearlings from the main catalogue (203) together with thoseincludedin a supplementary catalogue (59) to follow immediately after the conclusion of the main sale.

The supplementary sale of 59 “less commercial” yearlings who will not have been paraded on Tuesday, at a lesser entry fee and with sales series eligibility to be optional. Total yearling numbers are 311 with 203 in themain sale on Wednesday and 49 for the Tuesday trotting yearling’ssale and 59 for Wednesday’s supplementary sale. The Wednesday sale will commence at 10am with pacing yearlings expected to stay at the Agricultural Park overnightunless vendors wish to transport them back and forth over the two days. PGG Wrightson will be financing the temporary boxes required to accommodate increased numbers on site.

Consideration is being given to moving the May Autumn Christchurch Mixed sale to April to be run in conjunction with the thoroughbred equivalent. Sales Series eligibility would apply to yearlings entered giving those not sold in February a second chance.

Among the many faces of PGG over the past three decades and further have been Bruce Barlass and Peter Lagan together with auctioneer/bloodstock agent Paul Davies, all of whom were “graduates” from the days of Wrightson Bloodstock and/or earlier.

Bruce Barlass and Peter Lagan were instrumental in the formation of PGG Wrightson (then PGG) Standardbred division in 1987 and have remained the prominent faces of the organisation in the three decades since. Bruce Barlass manages the division while representative Peter Lagan is the “pedigree” expert. Another long serving employee Rachel Deeganadministers the financial operations. The Standardbred division of PGG Wrightson are advisers, valuers, sellers and insurers of bloodstock.

Paul Davies was aged seventeen when he joined the stock and station agency of National Mortgage in Dunedin direct from school (attended only National Yearling Sales held in Dunedin at Forbury Park during 1965 Interdominions witnessing Peter Kelly and Bill Patterson auctioneering). Moving to Christchurch eight years later to work for National Mortgage and Wright Stephenson as their standardbred representative, he had his first taste of auctioneering during the 1970 National Yearling Sales at Canterbury Court, Addington Showgrounds. On the formation of Wrightson Bloodstock as a subsidiary of Wrightson NMA in May 1977, Davies assumed the position of Manager, Standardbred Division, the position he held at the time of Wrightson Bloodstock’s sale to National Bloodstock Corporation in December 1986.

Initially accepting NBC’s offer to join them as General Manager (Sales), Davies resigned in January 1987 to form a private Standardbred agency ‘PW and JA Davies Ltd’ operated in partnership with his wife Joan. Thirty years in business on his own account, Paul continues in this role. He has acted as auctioneer at many of the NZ Premier and Australasian Classic yearling’s sales for the past three decades. His auctioneering duties have taken him to Australia where his services were utilised on three occasions in Perth, twice in Melbourne and one time in Sydney.Pauls’ continuous auctioneering entails forty years (1970 – 2010) and while he has taken a backseat since then he is still involved in the annual sales round.  Paul is hoping to achieve his goal of 50 years in the sales/auctioneering business in the next two years before signing off with his trademark phrase, “done, all done”.

Complimenting his auctioneering have been many other facets of involvement in the harness racing industry over the years such as race commentating for Radio Pacific, preview shows for Radio Pacific and Radio Avon, administrative duties with Banks Peninsula Trotting Club (committee member and President), Caduceus Club of Canterbury, involved in formation of Addington Harness Hall of Fame as a member of the Steering Committee, leading tour groups to Interdominions, etc. A lengthy and impressive CV in the harness racing industry.

My personal involvement withthe National Sales from early 1980’s as an observer, through to purchaser (early and late 1990’s both NZ Premier and Australasian Sales) and vendor for a period of ten years (late 1990’s/early 2000’s) and now back to observer status has meant meeting a number of the key personnel involved with PGG/PGG Wrightson. In addition to Bruce Barlass, Peter Lagan and Paul Davies, these have included  Rachel Deegan, Kerry Shaw, late Alastair Hopkinson (Hoppy), Steve Roulston, Russell Smith, Syd Wilson, Anthea Dick/Sharpe, General Manager of PGG the late Dennis Hazlett, auctioneer Steve Davies, pedigree reader John May etc.

Recent years have seen a steady major sales purchaser group evolve based around key trainers such as Mark Purdon (Phil and Glenys Kennard, Trevor Casey, Neil Pilcher etc),

Robert Dunn, Cran Dalgety (Jim and Dr Susan Wakefield), Nigel McGrath, Barry Purdon, Tony Herlihy, Ray Green (John Street,(Lincoln Farms) plus leading Australian purchasers Emilio and Mary Rosati, Jean Feiss, Justin Prentice and Geoff Webster as examples.

PGG/PGG Wrightson conducted the following regular sales :

Christchurch Autumn Weanling and All Age Sale including broodmares (late April – early June timeslot). First held in this time period in April 1988, numbers varied often dependant on the success or otherwise of vendors at the yearling sales – 1992 (50); 1993 (69) and in later years (2006 (106), 2007 (121), 2008 (139), 209 (63), 2010 (73), 2011 (69), 2012 (54), 2013 (43), 2014 (87), 2015 (102), 2016 (68), 2017 (69).

The Auckland Autumn Weanling and All Age Sale including broodmares was normally held mid to late May at the Karaka complex. Numbers recorded beginning with 1993 (51) and over later years (2006 (37), 2007 (38), 2008 (45), 2009 (57), 2010 (90), 2011 (120), 2012 (84), 2013 (127), 2014 (141), 2015 (101), 2016 (103), 2017 (131).

When combining the Autumn sales for Auckland and Christchurch, an idea can be gained of changes in the numbers being offered, In May 1996 combined sales included 128 broodmares, 50 weanlings, 37 yearlings, 13 two year olds, 12 racing stock and a stallion. The June 2003 sale included 125 broodmares, 56 weanlings, 14 yearlings and 128 raced/unraced stock while the May 2004 combined sales featured 116 broodmares, 82 weanlings, 12 yearlings and 17 raced/unraced stock.

Christchurch Ready To Run Sales – the inaugural sale was held in September 2001with horses trialled and videoed at Addington Raceway (28 lots, 18 sold). Number in later years September sales were : 2002 (over 60, two/three year olds); 2003 (60); 2004 with sales now taking place at Canterbury Agricultural Park (80); 2006 (73); 2007 (70); 2008 (103); 2009 (41); 2010 (81) and final in this series of Ready to Run Sales in October 2011 (63).

West Melton trainer Michael House was the major supporter of the Ready to Run concept and in 2016 PGG Wrightson ran a Michael House 2yo Running Sale (eight lots, three sold).

Whilst the above Ready To Run sale details relate to the latest sales of that type held, Paul Davies advised that back in the mid 1970’s at Motukarara racecourse with Paul auctioneering, the “pioneer” Ready To Run sale was held. Jack Honan from Sydney was in attendance and Graham Holmes paid the top price. The day was a typical blustery Canterbury nor-wester.

Among the one off sales held by PGG were :

Alexandra Breeding Partnership (Fay Richwhite offshoot) dispersal at Nevele R Stud February 1993 (24 broodmares, 1 weanling).

Roydon Lodge sales held in February 1994, 27 lots including broodmares, yearlings and unraced stock auctioned at Roydon Lodge, Jones Road Templeton and in April 2005 (49).

PGG Wrightson run dispersal sales since 2007 :

Spreydon Lodge, September 2008 (25 lots, 18 sold); 2011 reduction Sale (43 lots, 30 sold) held at 183 Halswell Road, now a housing development.

Bromac Lodge, April 2009 (62) held at Old Farm, Springs Road, Prebbleton.

Cullen Breeding, 2010 (37 lots, one withdrawn, all sold including2005 NZ Cup winner Mainland Banner for $135,000).

Studholme Bloodstock On Line Mixed Sale, 2014 (12 lots, seven sold).

Millburn Farm Mixed sale (Carl Middleton), 2015 (19 lots, all sold).

Studholme Bloodstock, 2017 (six yearlings, two sold)

Roydon Lodge September 2017 (16 lots consisting of ten broodmares and six racing stock, all sold). This was the full and final dispersal of all breeding stock from 90 year old Roydon Lodge Stud, Templeton. Roydon Lodge was founded by Sir John McKenzie in 1927, later owned by Sir Roy McKenzie and more recently by his son in law Keith Gibson (married to Sir Roy’s daughter Robyn). Roydon Lodge was home to former trotting super sire Sundon among many others.

National Bloodstock (NBC) –

Taking over the running of the National Sale in 1987 from Wrightson Bloodstock (NBC purchased Wrightson’s Standardbred division in December 1986), the 1987 sale was the forty third National Yearling Sale held during the Christchurch Interdominions.

The second National Sale run by NBC took place on 18 February 1988 (forty fourth and final National Yearling Sale) with a mixed sale consisting of 74 lots held the following day.

The Inaugural NBC International Yearling Sale was held at Alexandra Park on 5 March 1987 when 112 lots were catalogued, 38 of which were bred to North American time (NHT : 1 January – 31 December) together with fourteen being all American bred yearlings. Of the 112 lots, 58 colts, 47 fillies and seven trotters (108 lots sold) were eligible for the NBC International Classic Series races to be run the following season. This unreserved sale featured both an American and Australian bench, catered luncheon for six hundred and immaculately dressed bid spotters.

The second NBC International Yearling Sale was held at the then Wrightson Sales Complex (NZ Bloodstock Karaka Sales complex) at Karaka on 27 March 1988. Among the thirty five United States and Canadian visitors was Lou Guida of Niatross and Nihlator fame. A total of sixty nine yearlings were bred to NHT. Prominent Canadian auctioneer Bob Dickinson sold the North American bred yearlings and the most animated professional bid spotters in Cliff (Chappie) Chapman and Mile Lawrence kept bidders and non-bidders well entertained with their attendance. Of the 129 lots, 98 sold on the day.

The third NBC International Yearling Sale in 1989 had 319 lots presented with 96 bred to NHT, again in an effort to attract increased North American interest and/or ultimately eligibility for the NHT Yearling Sales series conducted in future years.

The fourth and final NBC International Yearling Sale held at Karaka in 1990 attracted 225 lots and with a supplementary catalogue 309 entries in all of which 204 sold. A mixed sale of 162 lots including 50 yearlings meant that close to 900 yearlings had been offered at public auction in 1990 from a foal crop of 8,770 mares bred for 5,927 live foals (approximately 15% for sale). NBC held a broodmare and weanling sale in June 1990 at Karaka consisting of 160 broodmares (152 sold), 27 weanlings (25 sold) and two racehorses (two sold).Paul Davies and Richard Baird were auctioneers for both NBC’s yearling and broodmare sales in 1990.

The 1991 Interdominion sale at Karaka was run by PGG (in addition to annual Australasian Classic sale at that time run by John F Jones) resulting in 241 sales from 309 lots. NBC held a mixed sale in May 1991 where twenty four lots were sold.

John F Jones –

John F Jones’s inaugural sale as auctioneers for the Australasian Classic Sale was held at Claudelands in February 1987 with 110 entries (89 sold). This sale included judging for the best presented filly and colt. The 1987 North Island broodmare sale (81 lots) was held in conjunction with the Australian Classic sale. John F Jones commenced sponsorship of the Rosso Antico Stakes (now Great Northern Trotting Derby) for three year old trotters as well as introducing their own two and three year old trotting series at Alexandra Park. Winners of this short lived series were :

Two year old John F Jones Trotting Stakes (June, 2200mM) : 1987 French Accent, 1988 Sundon, 1989 Rannach Ruler. Three Year Old John F Jones Trotting Stakes (May, 2200mM) : 1987 Directorship (Rosso Antico – Bellam), 1988 Arnsong (Rosso Antico – French Accent), 1989 Sundon (Rosso Antico – Sundon), PGG commenced sponsorship of Rosso Antico from 1990.

The 1988 Australasian Classic yearling sale at Claudelands in February had 124 lots offered while their first North Island sale in March again at Claudelands accounted for 142 lots. The third Australasian Classic sale (111 lots) and second NI yearling sales were held at Karaka in 1989. Similarly in 1990 the Australasian Classic (100 sold) and third North Island sale were held at Wrightson’s Sales Centre at Karaka. John F Jones ran the Australasian Classic sale for the final time in 1991 when 159 lots listed, 135 offered with 53 sales above $500.

Southland Standardbreds Ltd –

Principal Grant Sims held his company’s first Southland annual yearling/Broodmare/Mixed Age sale (56 lots) at Gore Showgrounds in 1987. In following years annual sales were held including  March 1990 (25 yearlings), eighth sale in January 1994 at Ashburton Showgrounds (thirty two year olds) and May 1994 at Ashburton Showgrounds (mixed sale of thirty five stock) with Ashley Emporium, Ashburton as auctioneer. What appears to have been final Southland Standardbred sales took place in 1997 : April at Forbury Park (35 yearlings and two year olds) and mixed sale in May at Ashburton Showgrounds – Ashley Emporium auctioneers.

Terry Yule Standardbred Auctions –

Terry Yule managed a number of standardbred sales in the late 1980’s through until the mid-1990. In April 1986 on account of Brydon Lodge, Clevedon, property of Gordon and Bryan Newberry, 69 of 72 lots offered were sold. Terry yule’s inaugural North Island sale was held at Queens Birthday weekend in 1988 at Claudelands (42 lots, 39 yearlings). The second NI sale in January 1989 (43 lots, 19 sold) held at Denby Lodge Sales complex, near Cambridge was run in conjunction with a Curtins Farms sale of 170 lots (134 sold).

The third NI sale in 1990 included 100 lots of 124 for Curtins Farms which went into liquidation in late 1990. An all age bloodstock sale held in May 1990 included saleson behalf of Kenwood Stud [57 lots], NBC and partnerships, Ladbrooks for Curtin Farms. Paul Davies assisted Terry yule with auctioneering at these 1990 sales. The February 1991 NI sale where 121 sold of 135 offered; January 1992 NI sale held at Claudelands Showgrounds had 47 of 61 lots offered (1 withdrawn) sell; 1993 NI sale, 42 of 57 sold; January 1994 had seventh NI sale followed a year later by the eighth and final NI sale run by Terry Yule Standardbred Auctions at Claudelands in January 1995.

Jaymar Trading Co Ltd (Richard Baird auctioneer) –

February 1989 Broodmare sale, unraced stock and gear – account of RW & DC Bishop Willowby, Ashburton.

Great Northern Bloodstock (NZ) Ltd –

Sales conducted at Ashburton August 1989; Te Aroha September 1989; Poplar Lodge, Willowby, Ashburton in January 1989 with Paul Davies as auctioneer.

Harnessworld –

June 1989, second broken in sale at their Stud property, North Road, Clevedon (31 lots) including broodmares with foal and/or served.

The information conveyed throughout these two articles is a comprehensive but not necessarily complete account of those entities that have been involved with the selling of Standardbreds over the years in New Zealand.

My thanks to Paul Davies for input and assistance with this two part article.

Peter Craig

24 January 2018

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