John and Judy Stiven of Arden Lodge, which sits under the Blue Mountains in Tapanui have pulled off a blue blood breeding coup.
Venus Serena the winner of sixteen races and $796,397 has been bought by Arden Lodge and will be arriving at her new home shortly.
The Stivens got to know Bob and Jen Sandford who raced the Mach Three mare when Venus Serena raced against their own mare Rocknroll Arden after talking with Sanford about Venus Serena being offered for sale the Stivens sealed the purchase of the talented six year old.
“Mares of this calibre are rarely available for sale. She's Mach Three’s best performed mare in New Zealand and was absolutely fabulous on the track and a terrific opportunity for Arden Lodge to take up," said John.
Stiven says that the Sandfords will be keeping the mare's first foal – a colt by Art Major named Laver and she heads south carrying a service to Art Major.
On the race track perhaps Venus Serena's most memorable win was at Cambridge in the Three Year Old Diamond on Harness Jewels day when she beat Ideal Belle and Raksdeal.
“I was three wide without cover virtually the whole way. I never saw the fence at all. She just keeps giving. I’m running out of words for this filly. She is truly amazing,” driver John Dunn said after the win.
In the four seasons Venus Serena raced, she broke six New Zealand records – two of which still stand; Two Year Old Fillies record for 1950 metres mobile of 2-23.5 (Addington) and Four Year Old and Older mares for 2700 metres mobile of 3-18.7 (Cambridge).
In 2014 she was named New Zealand Two Year Old Filly of the Year after winning three Group One races; The Caduceus Club Fillies Classic, Sires Stakes Championship and Two Year Old Diamond. The following season she won the Three Year Old Filly of the year title winning another three Group One races. All in all she won seven Group One races.
Venus Serena's fourth dam Witchlight is well know to many Southland breeding buffs. Her son Trident began his career in the province as a two year old for Spur Bush trainer Brian O'Meara winning seven races at that age.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing
