A chance encounter has led to Genevieve Crawford preparing a stellar draft for this month’s National Yearling sales.

Crawford has put in plenty of hands-on work in previous sales, but this year she will present seven yearlings for sale under her own name.

The move is another accomplishment for the horsewoman who has already made her mark in several other areas of the harness racing industry.

Crawford is a race-winning junior driver who is best known for her work to transform hundreds of former racehorses into riding horses.

In her yearling sales venture, the Otago horsewoman gets to apply a range of the skills she has built up.

“I enjoy working with young horses the most, handling them and educating them so I quite enjoy the sales prep,” Crawford said.

Crawford has linked up with Central Otago breeder Rusty Nevill ahead of previous sales, with the pair producing some strong results in recent years.

The association began when the pair bumped into each other.

“I ran into Rusty at the Cromwell races and he asked if I would be interested in doing some yearlings from the sales.”

“He rang me later and asked if I was serious and I said yes.”

“I haven’t really chased it, but I also had Malcolm Little ask me to do his ones and I am doing one for Dean Lawrence too.”

Among Crawford’s draft for this year’s sales are two of the three yearlings in the catalogue by world record holder and freshman sire Bulldog Hanover.

With the speedster already proving a popular choice with buyers in North America, there is already good interest in his yearling sales prospects.

“My two are really nice colts and I really think they are worth a look.”

“There has been quite a bit of interest in them, I have had people wanting photos and videos of them.”

Crawford’s draft includes two fillies by Downbytheseaside.

There are also trotting colts by One Over Da Moon and Habibi Inta and a filly by King Of The North.

Crawford has combined with Nevill for some strong results at recent sales, but this year she looks poised to do even better.

“We have had some good results in the past, but I feel like we have more of those nice types of horses this year.”

With the yearlings set to depart later this month, Crawford won’t have to juggle her farm work around the sales prep.

But horses won’t be out of the picture, with the horsewoman a keen rider and regular on cavalcades.

To see more on the Southern Bred Southern Reared draft click here

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand