Changing Of The Guard At Studholme Bloodstock

Studholme Bloodstock has been a staple of the New Zealand Standardbred sale scene for more than 50 years, but there has been a changing of the guard at the Coes Ford farm over the last few years.

Farm principal Brian West has gradually handed over the operation of the property to his grandson Vinnie West-Pulu, who will be in charge of his third NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft in Christchurch next week.

While they are separated by a generation, the pair have formed a close partnership over the last 15 years and West-Pulu has enjoyed learning more about the standardbred arm of the business after initially being solely responsible for the farm’s livestock.

“It’s officially my third (draft) but I have been with Pop for 15 years,” West-Pulu said. “We had two divisions, where he controlled the horse side of things and I maintained the farm - we run cattle.

“He still picks pedigrees and my early role was to get them (horses) from a foal to the yearling barn and then he took over (their yearling preparation). It’s been pretty good.”

In that time there have been several standout graduates, headed by Lazarus (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), who went on to win 37 races, 16 at Group One level, and earned more than $4.4 million in prizemoney on his way to being crowned dual New Zealand Horse of the Year and Australian Horse of the Year.

West-Pulu is hoping their next champion graduate is among their 17-strong 2026 draft.

While pleased with the overall draft, West-Pulu is particularly upbeat about Lot 194, a Captaintreacherous colt who is the first foal out of five-time Group One winner True Fantasy (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

“He is a lovely colt who has definitely thrown to mum more than the Captaintreacherous look,” West-Pulu said.

“I am picking he should be our top lot, just on what his mum has done and he is by Captaintreacherous, so he has got all the ticks there.”

Group One-winning mare Lancome (NZ) (Courage Under Fire) has been a farm favourite for several years, and West-Pulu is looking forward to offering her Vincent colt as Lot 299 next week.

“Lancome is the queen of the farm,” West-Pulu said. “This Vincent is very similar to last year’s yearling, which was a Lazarus. He is big and strong and quite laidback. He wouldn’t cost you a lot in the feed bin because you would put him on a diet.”

A three-quarter sister to multiple Group One winner Chase A Dream (NZ) (Captaintreacherous), by Captain Crunch, will be offered as lot 170, and is expected to garner plenty of interest.

“She is another lovely type, who is big and strong and she is a relation to Chase A Dream,” West-Pulu said. “She has thrown to mum, and Captain Crunch can sometimes throw them a bit tubby and clunky but this filly is almost colt looking.”

West-Pulu said Lot 319, the Bettor’s Delight full-brother to dual Group One winner The Black Prince (NZ) has thrived during the preparation.

“My Style (dam) throws lovely types of horses,” he said. “The one we have got this year is a big, strong colt, we are actually struggling to get weight off him. You could virtually put him in the stallion barn coming off the sale ring.”

Lot 204, the Bettor’s Wish filly out of Wat A Woman (NZ) (Mach Three), alongside close relation Lot 137, the Bettor’s Delight filly out of Group One winner No Matter Wat (NZ) (A Rocknroll Dance), have also developed into strong types over the yearling sale preparation.

“The Wat A Woman filly is big and strong, she is probably my second pick out of our fillies,” West-Pulu said.

“The No Matter Wat filly has grown through the prep. She is a first foal and a late foaling, so she has a few crosses against her, but she is a lovely, strong racey type.”

Among Studholme’s trotting offering, West-Pulu highlighted Lot 274 and Lot 292, the fillies out of Hot Vacation (NZ) (Dream Vacation) and I’ve Got Attitude (NZ) (Sundon) respectively, as ones to watch, with the Canterbury horseman impressed by their sire, King Of The North.

“Queen Of The North, the Hot Vacation filly, was the standout filly for me,” West-Pulu said. 

“She is well put together, she is very athletic and long-legged but she is proportioned well.

“The I’ve Got Attitude filly has come through the prep strong. She had a bit of an accident on Friday and has stitches, but it is superficial. She has filled out lovely through the prep and is not too big or small.

“I really like the type that King Of The North leaves.”

NZB’s 2026 National Standardbred Yearling Sale is taking place this summer at the Karaka Sales Centre on Monday 16 February from 1pm, and at the RDA Building in Christchurch on Wednesday 18 February from 11am. 

All horses purchased at the Sale are eligible for NZB Standardbred’s lucrative Harness Million Sales Race Series. The Series consists of principal two-year-old and three-year-old races for colts and geldings, fillies and trotters individually, where NZB Standardbred graduates can contest for their share in a one million dollar prizepool.