Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column.
by Brittany Graham
With less than two weeks until the annual NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale, it seemed the perfect opportunity to reflect on some of the more ‘shrewd’ purchases out of that sale ring. This year’s event will be run alongside the thoroughbred sale, which opens the opportunities to an even wider audience in 2025.
Christopher Dance – $8,000
Before he was Group 1 winning WA Derby winner Christopher Dance, lot 100 at the 2021 NZB Weanling Sale was knocked down to an $8000 bid. The Son of Sweet Lou out of a Bettors Delight mare was presented by Woodlands Stud as a first foal. Showing immense promise as a young horse, he ran a narrow second in the 2024 Great Northern Derby before being recruited by Team Bond in Perth. He made an instant impression, winning his first four starts including a dominant Group 1 WA Derby success in November last year. Before being exported to the United States earlier this year, his Australasian bank balance sat at a tick over $200,000 which will no doubt but added to once he steps out in Northern Hemisphere.
Kiss – $20,000
Renowned for his sharp yearling sale purchases, Dean Shannon proved he had an eye for a weanling bargain too when picking up Kiss as a part of the 2021 sale. She garnered her fair share of interest off the page of a stacked pedigree, and by being a correct individual, although the $20,000 price tag now looks astute. Tested against the very best of her division as a two and three-year-old, she herself changed hands midway through 2024 before joining Emma Stewart in Victoria. Shortly thereafter she was able to bag a Group 1 placing when second behind fellow kiwi bred mare Coastal Babe in the Victoria Oaks. Her crowning moment however came in the Vicbred Super Series 3yo Fillies Final where she took home a $50,000 winning cheque, that now sits alongside her $195,000 lifetime bank balance. Now a four-year-old, she is bound for another feature race tilt in Queensland in the coming weeks.
Heat Seeker – $42,000
A standout of the 2019 sales, plenty of smart judges were on the son of Sweet Lou which saw his price swell to a very respectable $42,000 when the gavel came down. Winning two races in the South Island for Stephen Boyd, he was subsequently purchased by the late Tony Veivers and sent across to Perth where he was subsequently known as ‘Wasa Heat Seeker’. He found his sweet spot however in Queensland with Nathan Dawson where he became a short course specialist, winning five from six starts at Albion Park including the Be Good Johnny Sprint. Quickly snapped up by North American interests thereafter, he went State-side via Menangle where he added further 1.50 miles to his CV and went down narrowly in 1.49.2. He looks tailor made for the constant American mile racing where he will further add to his $133,000 bank balance.
To see the NZB Standardbred Weanling catalogue click here
