It was serious standardbred business on Harness Million and Mares Classic Night, with barely a trickle-down in the feature races. The support card offered up a few quality underdogs to root for though!
It was serious standardbred business on Harness Million and Mares Classic Night, with barely a trickle-down in the feature races, although the support card offered up a few quality underdogs to root for.
Radical Investment Returns
Todd and Fleur Anderson, famous for their Taffy Ltd operation, have made turning a profit from standardbred yearlings a masterclass in recent years.
The programme? Buy what you know as the best XX, breed those to their best XY match and, while mere mortals hope for the best end result, Mr and Mrs Anderson appear to have locked in their own ‘code for +++’, year in, year out.
We can all view them at the yearling sales, search for them in weanling paddocks (if we know where to look) but usually find them later when the race-winning data starts appearing across the industry's web platforms after the business is done.
It was during the 2025 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales week when Mr Anderson started thinking about "doing something pretty radical". His broodmare band was producing results again in Christchurch when he tracked down a Mr Purdon ringside and asked if there might still be a share package available in "that trotter you bought from Yabby Dam in Auckland".
"You know he's got a set of testicles Todd, not ovaries, right?" quizzed Barry before confirming.
Not too radical, and certainly worth entering in a side-hustle given Duke Of Bourbon's global pedigree. Search ‘Face Time Bourbon’ to find just the beginning of a bloodline that reads like the squaregaiter hall of fame.
An early-running type was there for all to see on the pre-sale sites and, as far as Todd Anderson could see, if Barry Purdon liked him there wasn't much not to like, not even that $240,000 price tag.
On six race nights so far, ‘the Duke’ has revealed bits of everything, but mostly some ‘pretty radical’ raw talent.
More than enough to replenish an initial outlay tenfold in the end, if he stays intact on the track and beyond, if he is indeed, ‘The One’.
It was a little bittersweet writing up the feats of ‘Francent’ overseas recently, but watching the NZB Standardbred Southern Mares Classic this year replenished hope for our harness racing future.
While it's fantastic to see our racemares waving the kiwibred flag worldwide, it still smarts that quality performers such as Francent, Louis Girl, Watch Me Now, Amazing Dream and a long list of others are gone, perhaps for good, from our broodmare band.
The blanket finish meant 10 of the 13 mares were covered by less than four lengths in the 2026 edition of the Listed race, proving the move from Show Day to early October was merely a date change and nothing more.
And what a contest!
‘Nothing But You’ had to burn off the arm in under 12 seconds to the furlong marker and find the lead, then was obliged to justify it all the way home, gripping on gamely for third place.
Last year's winner ‘Esmeralda’ as courageous as her Notre Dame namesake, storming from the fringes for fifth, while ‘Princess Gracy’ added another minor to her second placings in last year's Magness Benrow 3YO Fiilies Series Final and NZ Oaks not to mention her win the the 2026 Northern Mares Classic under the Ribbon Of Light.
The winner, Utah Jazz, tore the house down with a popular tune!
"Breeder, Price Bloodstock. Trainer/driver, Nathan Williamson. Owner, Boots Properties Racing Pty Ltd."
There's a great chance she and the majority of her rivals will fill New Zealand broodmare paddocks in the near future.
Jumal's blitzkrieg of the Flying Stakes.
Yes like "the best horse you'd ever train," Reidman.
A warm buzz surrounds this colt's coming of age.
He's fast and brave, but not infallible just yet.
That gives Kiwi harness fans plenty to invest in when he lines up from an awkward draw against rivals capable of tipping him over if things go pear-shaped.
Anticipating a campaign across the Tasman, seeing him scorch around Menangle at record-smashing speeds against an abundance of Australian talent keeps enough uncertainty to have us on the edge....
Isn't that what we live for?
Also Loved: That the Tour Party got its Second Wind.
It was starting to look like an early night after a few unexpected beats at the table lately, but with an enthusiastic shove along from the massive ownership group, which contains plenty of next-generation firepower, and some soul-searching and extra coaching through Kentuckiana, the blueblood colt kicked one from halfway and got back in front.
Note to Self:
That 'Cullen Racing' filly is one hard arse boss!
Who's the Boss?
I'm The Boss.
When you think you're getting the better of me, you're just not.
Never forget that.
Also noted in Highlighted Caps;
SOUTHLANDERS AND THEIR NAGS ARE UP FOR A SUMMER SCORCHER!!
Is the dark winter slumber a thing of the past down south?
Are locals being stirred earlier these days by incentivised early-spring racing?
Or is the weather just warmer there now?
Connections are even considering late series payments.
‘Captain Wolf’ and ‘Imperious Girl’ are both late bloomers but early risers this year and, now they're here, Craig Dempster, Tim Grant and Tony Stratford have a decision to make on whether to have a crack at the Woodlands Sires Stakes Series with their big doggy.
It requires some cash, like $20k, and then a top-three in the final Ashburton heat to make their Cup Day great again.
Brian Norman from Gore, took a similar gamble with his freakish trotting filly back in September.
His 'budget' but brilliantly bred ‘Imperious Girl’ has put every three-year-old trotting filly on notice for next month's NZ Trotting Oaks, producing one of the most impressive performances of the seven Southern Bred, Southern Reared winners on the night.
"Things just got real," as they say in the big shows.
But there are still plenty of underlings to root for as the annual spring racing pilgrimage continues its march...
