South Island Sale Vendor: White Robe Lodge
With a 13-strong consignment of two-year-olds bound for the 2009 New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale, the White Robe Lodge tradition of breeding and selling quality thoroughbreds is set to continue.
Long regarded as a thoroughly reliable source of good quality racing stock, buyers, bloodstock agents and subsequent owners have become very familiar with the White Robe Lodge product.
Established in 1956 at Wingatui and transferred to North Taieri in 1981, White Robe Lodge, owned and operated by the Anderton family, has been the backbone of breeding and racing in the South Island for more than three decades.
Synonymous in bloodstock circles as the family that stood the two Australasian champion sires, Mellay and Noble Bijou, the Anderton name is proudly associated alongside of some of New Zealand’s greatest achievers on the racetrack. Horses such as Prince Majestic, Alibhai, Powley, Allez Bijou, Be Noble and Our Sophia were all bred by the Andertons.
Noble Bijou sired a total of 68 stakeswinners, most notably The Phantom, The Phantom Chance and Lomondy, and is still the only sire in the history of New Zealand thoroughbred breeding to have won both the general and broodmare sires list in the same year.
Together Mellay and Noble Bijou claimed seven sires’ championships and eleven New Zealand broodmare sires’ titles for the Anderton family.
After working a lifetime in partnership with his wife Lorraine at the stud, Brian Anderton, who rode in his first race at the age of 13, now focuses on the training facet of the business alongside their son Shane. Son-in-law Wayne Stewart, and wife Karen, manage the day-to-day running of the stud.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing spoke with Wayne during the week to assess the 13-strong White Robe Lodge Draft, which features progeny by the studs current stallion line-up of Yamanin Vital (sire of 2003 NZ Derby winner Cut The Cake), Seasoned Star, and Danzighill.
“We’ve potentially got the strongest draft we have ever had for this sale,” commented Stewart.
“The colts are all very strong correct types and we couldn’t be happier with them. I think one of the strengths of our draft this year is that they are all going to make great pin-hook opportunities. With the Ready to Run Sale just three months away, there is real potential for a quick turnover and return on investment. With the advancement of staying racing in Singapore, our New Zealand-bred stayers have become even more attractive to this market. The progeny of Yamanin Vital come right into play here, and they become a very affordable sound option,” added Stewart.
Asked to select a standout of the 2009 draft, Stewart offers his top two two-year-olds.
“The Yamanin Vital ex Party Player colt is an outstanding individual and has a lot going for him. Having said that it’s hard to separate him and the Seasoned Star ex Mighty Melleus colt who is also a real standout. Overall we are very proud of what we are going to put before buyers on August 7 – we have a very genuine bunch of horses to choose from,” Stewart concluded.