News 2022

January 3, 2022

Peter Wharton

Breeders Crown quinella Champion sire MUSCLE HILL left the quinella pair, Rules Dont Apply and Powderkeg, in the Group 1 $100,000 Final of the Vicbred Super Series for four-year-old entires and geldings at Melton on New Year’s Eve.

Rules Dont Apply sat parked for most of the trip and was untroubled to fend off the late bid of Powderkeg. The gelding rated 1:57.1 over 2240 metres. Out of a mare by Continentalman, Rules Dont Apply has now won eight races and $105,940 in stakes. MUSCLE HILL was also represented by the Breeders Crown Final placegetters Aldebaran Zeus (2nd) and Bullion Harry (3rd) in the three-year-old colts and geldings’ division, and Courage Stride (2YO colt), Queen Invasion (3YO filly) and Illawong Stardust (4YO mare), who finished runner-up in their $100,000 Finals.

Aldebaran Vera, a two-year-old filly by TRIXTON, ran a close second in the Group 1 two-year-old trotting fillies’ Final. On the same night, the brilliant MUSCLE HILL fouryear-old Bolt For Brilliance overcame a 30 metre handicap to annex the Group 3 Greenlane Cup at Alexandra Park, Auckland. BOLT FOR BRILLIANCE (ex Britewell mare) has won 14 races – including five at Group level – and $427,094

January 22, 2022

Stallions Australasia yearlings at Christchurch sale

Yearlings by Stallions Australasia sires Muscle Hill, Tactical Landing and Father Patrick will go under the hammer at the New Zealand National Standardbred Yearling Sale at Christchurch on February 14.

The yearlings are Lot 141 Muscle Dash, a colt by Muscle Hill from the Sundon mare Triple A; Lot 165, a Father Patrick filly from the Muscle Hill mare Exit; and Lot 175, Tactical Dash, a Tactical Landing colt out of the Pegasus Spur mare Habibti Sadie. For further information phone Peter O’Rourke on 0011 64 21 346 401 from Australia or 021 346 401 from NZ.

February 12, 2022

The only Muscle Hill yearling at the NZ sale

When Lot 141 steps into the ring at the NZB National Standardbred Yearling Sale at Christchurch on Monday, February 14 he will hold a unique place at the auction.

Muscle Dash, a grand looking bay colt being offered by Stallions Australasia directors Peter O’Rourke and David Shammall, is the only progeny of the mighty MUSCLE HILL, the five-time premier North American trotting sire, to go up for auction in New Zealand and Australia this year.

The colt is out of the unraced Sundon mare Triple A, a sister to the multiple Group 1 and 3YO Trotter of the Year Award winners Ima Gold Digger ($364,076), Dependable ($154,916) and Shirley Temple and the Group 2 winner and 2YO Trotter of the Year in Jo Anne.

A full brother to the Group 3 Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Silver winner Aldebaran Alissa, Muscle Dash is also closely related to the NZ Trotters Derby winner Doctor Mickey ($122,622) and the multiple Group winner in NZ and Australia, Monty Python ($228,040). Boasting a 4×4 cross to the great Speedy Crown, Muscle Dash is being prepared by Nikki Reed and Scott Green.

February 15, 2022

Tactical Landing filly tops Christchurch sale

A filly by brilliant first crop sire TACTICAL LANDING brought the top price of $110,000 in the trotting section of the NZ Bloodstock National Standardbred Yearling Sale at Christchurch. Out of the Angus Hall mare Petite One, the filly was consigned by Laura Smith and purchased by Auckland horsemen Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

A TACTICAL LANDING colt out of Habibti Sadie realised $30,000 at the same sale, while a colt by TACTICAL LANDING from Classic Armbro sold for $50,000 at the Karaka sale. Muscle Dash, the only MUSCLE HILL yearling to be offered in Australasia this year, was knocked down for $50,000 at the Christchurch auction. The colt is out of the Sundon mare Triple A.

February 19, 2022

Classic winner by Wishing Stone Wish

Upona Dream, a daughter of WISHING STONE, outstayed her rivals to take out the Group 2 $30,000 3YO Trotters Classic at Melton on Saturday night (February 26).

After being trapped three wide early, the filly settled down at the tail of the eight-horse field. Set alight at the 1200 metre mark, Wish Upona Dream moved alongside the leader at the bell, made a brief miscue on the home turn and recovered to prevail in the last few bounds. It was her second success.

Bred, part-owned and trained by Rebecca Morrissey, Wish Upona Dream is out of a Malabar Maple mare. WISHING STONE has sired eight winners from 10 starters from 19 Australian-bred foals of racing age – an amazing siring score.