HRNZ MARKETING
A new format of this year’s New Zealand Premier Standardbred Yearling Sale to be held in Christchurch on February 13 and 14 has provided a unique new opportunity for potential buyers.
Due to popular demand the Christchurch Sale has now been broken up into specific categories, commencing with the Premier Trotters Sale at 4pm on February 13.
The Premier Pacing Sale starts on February 14 at 10am, and is followed with the Premier Yearling Sale Supplementary Sale at 4.30pm.
With this new format it allows trotting enthusiasts an early session in which to see the yearlings paraded at 11am (the pacing consignment will follow) and then the opportunity to bid on all trotting stock in one session.
“With the huge growth in the interest in trotters it made sense to look at how we could best showcase that stock to their market,” said Bruce Barlass of PGG Wrightson Standardbred. “We have seen in the first instance how much the trotters are filling fields, particularly in the likes of Auckland, and the breeding numbers around them are increasing each season. Not only that but the quality of trotting bloodlines we are seeing available from all around the world is adding to a huge lift in numbers and quality on offer for buyers. The demand for trotters is going up.”
The new format has received positive response from the industry.
“The vendors were keen for us to find ways to showcase not only trotting stock, but the pacing stock also, to the right audience and we feel that this is the ideal way to do that,” Barlass explained.
Barlass expects whatever happens this year with the trotting sale to only improve next year, as the positive numbers are in the wings for upcoming sales entries.
One added incentive to be present for the early session also is the fact that Steve Davis will auction all of the trotting consignment on offer.
“Steve has kindly offered to do the first session as he has commitments at sales in Australia the following day. So he has promised to be there for the first day so he can still be a part of our sale and we are thrilled he can help out,” said Barlass.
Full sale information, catalogue order details and yearling tour dates can be found by visiting the PGG Wrightson Standardbred website www.standardbred.co.nz
The sales will also be live streamed on their website again this year.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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