By Tayler Strong
The group one winner Arden’s Choice has been retired from racing and she will mated with champion sire Bettor’s Delight.
Arden’s Choice has joined her dam, Winter Rose in the broodmare band at the Arden Lodge stud of John and Judy Stiven at Tapanui (West Otago).
“She has won a group one and run third in an Auckland Cup. We felt she had nothing else to prove,’’said John Stiven.
Arden’s Choice, now rising five, won the gr one Caduceus Classic for 2yr-old fillies in Auckland when trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen. Her Auckland Cup third this year was from the stable of Barry Purdon for whom she won four races. She won seven races and $282,000 in stakes.
The daughter of Panspacificflight was bred and raced by the Stivens in a lease agreement with friends Les and Lynette Roseveare, of West Otago. She was a wonderful introduction to racehorse ownership for the Roseveares.
Winter Rose, who is also the dam of Bettor’s Strike (Victoria and Tasmanian Cups), Rocknroll Arden(a gr three winner and second in a 2yr-old Sires’ Stakes final) and Southwind Arden (nine wins) will be served by Sweet Lou.
Venus Serena, the seven-time gr one winner bought this year by Arden Lodge, is to be served by Bettor’s Delight.
Southwind Arden, Rocknroll Arden and Arden’s Darlin, other Arden Lodge mares, are booked to Art Major.
A colt by Art Major from Rocknroll Arden was the top priced lot for Arden Lodge at the PGG Wrightson premier yearling sale in Christchurch in February at $155,000. Arden Lodge sold seven lots for an average of $55,786.
The mares will be artificially inseminated with transported semen at Macca Lodge in Northern Southland.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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