Twelve months ago in Australasia, it was hard to find many harness racing breeders who were prepared to stand up for the champion sire Somebeachsomewhere based on his performance to that point down under.
Whereibylong 1:56.8 ($395,667) had won a Breeders Crown at two but a lot of the other runners had failed to reach anything like that level.
However in the space of the last twelve months all that has changed and now Somebeachsomewhere is as hot down under as he is in North America.
In producing the leading three year old colt /gelding in Australia in Menin Gate 1:54.3 ($502,335) and the the leading two year old colt/gelding in Australia in the unbeaten Waikiki Beach 1:53.7 ($510,421) in the past season, Somebeachsomewhere has proven that his stock can dominate down under as well.
With his biggest crop by far in Australasia hitting the tracks as two year olds this season, Somebeachsomewhere has a great opportunity to build on the success of the last year.
Mark Purdon and Cran Dalgety are two of the best juvenile buyers and preparers in the industry in Australasia and they have come to similar conclusions as to what makes the difference between a nice Somebeachsomewhere and a top class one.
Both are very keen to see the name of Bettor's Delight as the maternal sire and for the same reasons.
The Direct Scooter siring line is well noted for leaving horses that can get a touch hot when racing whereas the stock of Bettor's Delight are renowned for being very laid back.
Put together, the combination seems to take a lot of that 'hotness' out of the foals.
The other main reason for the Bettor's Delight influence is the issue of size.
Somebeachsomewhere stock are renowned for being bigger horses than the norm whereas Bettor's Delight tends to leave a smaller type of horse.
Again a combination of the two seems to work well.
Waikiki Beach is bred on that cross and Cran Dalgety has high hopes for an Australian bred son of Somebeachsomewhere named Shineonucrazydiamond who is also bred on that cross and trialled smartly last Wednesday at Rangiora.
There are only two colts bred on this cross in the New Zealand yearling sales this year
Lot 53 at the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale at Karaka on February 22nd has plenty to recommend him.
Named Funatthebeach, the colt is the first foal from the very smart Bettor's Delight racemare Minnie Moose 1:55.9 ($140,958) who was placed in the Harness Jewels in the 4/5 year old Diamond as well the North Island Breeders Stakes.
This is a family established and raced by the late Nelson Dalzell in North Canterbury and carried on today by his daughter Caroline and son in law Braeden Whitelock at Braeside Lodge in Palmerston North.
It has produced a string of top liners over the years including Diamond Moose (13 wins), Lord Moose (9 wins), Lady El (8 wins) and Golden Moose (6 wins) to name just a few.
On type as you can see from the photos and a pedigree right on the cutting edge, Funatthebeach has an awlful lot going for him.
To view the Catalogue for the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale click here.
Harnesslink Media
