Yearling Sales Preview - Three Lazarus lots prepared by Gael Murray
- admin877793
- Jan 30
- 5 min read
Yearling preparers, breeders and buyers are in for a big three weeks as we count down to the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sales, this year to be held at Karaka on Monday 16 February and the Canterbury Agricultural Park on Wednesday 18 February.
We are proud of the Wai Eyre stallion offerings and are as always grateful to those who support them.
We will highlight some of those up for auction as we build into the biggest week on the standardbred sales calendar in New Zealand.
Respected Canterbury Yearling Preparer, Gael Murray, once again has a busy preparation heading towards the sales in Christchurch in February.
This year she prepares nine yearlings in total, and has three lots by Lazarus to prepare.
It’s a special job ensuring these yearlings reach the sales in peak condition, and also in the right mind frame to face the many walk outs and inspections anticipated around the sales and sale day.
It takes hours of work, and lots of education and attention to detail to ensure these young horses have the best chance of a sale come auction day.
When it comes to preparing yearlings by Lazarus, Gael has a great track record. She prepared Jeremiah for the sales in 2022, where he sold to clients of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan for $80,000.
He has now gone on to win seven of his 20 races, and looks set to embark on a big season in 2026 in some of our biggest open class races.
Wai Eyre Farm spoke to Gael about the three Lazarus offerings she presents in this year’s sale.
Lot 228 – Laz The Knuckle - Lazarus – Bare Knuckle Colt
Lot 228, Laz The Knuckle is a half-brother to open class pacer Better Knuckle Up, and is sold by Hal David of Australia.
Better Knuckle Up to date has won six of his 28 raceday appearances, and was the winner of the Listed $500,000 Velocity as a three-year-old at Addington Raceway.
He also placed third last season in the Franklin Cup and Holmes DG, and finished an eye catching fourth in the New Zealand Trotting Cup last year as a four-year-old.
The dam, Bare Knuckle, won eight races and has had two foals to race two winners,
His pedigree page further back is very strong as well, with the third dam being Group One winner and Broodmare Excellence Award winner, Scuse Me.
This is the family of Have Faith In Me, Adore Me, Imagine Me and notably, Merlin.
Gael has been impressed with what she has seen during her work with the Lazarus colt and how he is put together.
“He’s a very correct type, and you can see he has thrown to the Bettor’s Delight side through Lazarus. He’s a neat little colt,” Gael said.
“He is very easy to work with, all of the Lazarus yearlings are.”
Gael predicts there will be a bit of potential as the colt continues to develop.
“Looking at him now I think he’ll grow into a bit of a pocket rocket, he looks like he has the ability to produce some speed.”
This colt is sure to catch the attention of potential buyers, given his great looks and the successful cross with the Bettors Delight line previously with the mare.
It is interesting to note, this colt shows a double up of Christian Cullen in his pedigree which will catch the eye of those who remember the great horse and his legacy.
His full page can be viewed here: https://www.nzbstandardbred.co.nz/sales/26syc/228
Lot 285 – Image - Lazarus – I Spy Diamonds Colt
Lot 285 is a Lazarus colt bred by John McDermott, who also presented Jeremiah to the sales as a yearling.
Image is the first foal out of I Spy Diamonds, a mare by He’s Watching who placed four times on the track.
She is a half-sister to Topaz (10 wins to date), Ruby’s A Delight (13 wins to date) and Sophie (6 wins).
The second dam is Supreme Gem, who has not only been a great producer at stud but amassed eight wins during her racing career. She also finished third in the Canterbury Breeders Stakes.
His third dam is Flying Sands, a tough race mare who had 11 victories for Peter Cowan. She won the Great Northern Breeders Stakes at Alexandra Park at Listed level, and placed third in a Methven Green Mile and a Winter Cup at Addington.
This colt has impressed Gael with how he is put together.
“This colt is a cracker. He is a lovely horse. He’s very correct in his conformation,” Gael explained.
“He’s got a lovely walk on him, and he is great to work with. He’s well put together.”
“John (McDermott) bred Jeremiah who I prepared as well for the sales, and they’ve got another nice colt in this one.”
His breeder, John McDermott, also loves the look of this son of Lazarus.
“I rate this guy equally as high on appearance to Jeremiah, even though he’s from a different family. He’s a real looker.”
John’s been a huge supporter of Lazarus at stud, and loves what he stamps his offspring with.
“They’ve got his temperament. And every one that I’ve bred is so easy to work with and handle.”
His pedigree also offers the Christian Cullen cross.
Full details on Lot 285 can be found here: https://www.nzbstandardbred.co.nz/sales/26syc/285
Lot 290 – Unnamed - Lazarus – Jessie J Filly
This filly by Lazarus is the first foal from an unraced dam in Jessie J, another bred by Hal David.
This is a family full of black type and offers a great option to buy into a filly with future broodmare potential after racing.
Her second dam is Jessies Cullen, who won nine races in her career on the track for trainer Peter Ferguson.
She has become a great producer at stud, leaving the likes of Colonel Lincoln (winner of four to date for Ray Green and Nathan Delaney) and Princess Jessie (winner of two and placed third in the Group One Northern Oaks).
Princess Jessie is the dam of Princess Gracy, who has had 3 wins and 5 placings from only 10 starts to date. Including a second in the Group One Sires Stakes Fillies Final.
She also has left Jessies Girl, herself unraced, which in turn produced Coastal Babe, winner of nine races including the Victoria Oaks at Melton and the Harness Million 3yo Fillies Final at Alexandra Park.
Her third dam is Jessie Grace, winner of the Broodmare Excellence Award. She has left Pacing Grace and Bettor Romance, making this the family of Hadron Collider, My Ultimate Jimmy and All You Need Is Faith.
Once again, as we have in the other two lots, we see the Christian Cullen double up again in her pedigree.
Gael loves the way this filly moves, her attitude and her family page.
“She’s a leggy type of filly, and quite fine in her build. She’s a great walking filly, has a really nice walk on her. And she’s really easy to do anything with.”
“There is a lot of depth in her pedigree, I think she’s going to grow into quite a nice filly.”
Her page can be found here: https://www.nzbstandardbred.co.nz/sales/26syc/290
Gael’s experience with preparing yearlings by Lazarus has given her a great insight to the traits he leaves his progeny with.
“You can’t fault all three of them.”
“They are all very easy to work with. Great legs, and have really good walks on them.”
“You wouldn’t be afraid to breed one by him because the conformation on them all is so good. He leaves them very straight.
Three wonderful families on offer by the living legend that is Lazarus, and Wai Eyre Farm once again thank breeders for supporting him at stud.
We wish the preparers and breeders all the very best for the upcoming sales.
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