KEY POINTS:
One of New Zealand's most famous standardbred nurseries is to be sold but founder Sandy Yarndley says it will still be business as usual.
Waikato-based Yarndley Farms will be sold to Breckon Farms Ltd, the breeding operation operated by Auckland businessman Ken Breckon.
Breckon and his late brother Peter burst into harness racing prominence in 1996 after they purchased Megaera off Yarndley and she went on to become a champion filly.
"We have been close friends since and he is really the only person I would consider selling the farm to," said Yarndley.
"I am 62 now and want to have time for other things, like my grandkids. But I will still be very much involved in harness racing."
Yarndley will stay on as a consultant as well as breeding some of his own mares, while the farm will retain its staff, who specialise in breeding and preparing horses for the yearling sales.
Yarndley has been a key player in developing the northern standardbred sales from a joke over 20 years ago to the leading yearling sale in the Southern Hemisphere.
Along the way he has sold many superstars, with dual New Zealand Cup winner Il Vicolo the best.
"Back when we started a $6000 yearling would top the sale.
"Now we see harness horses being sold for over $1 million so there has never been a better time to be involved."
* New Zealand will have another representative in the Australasian Breeders Crown following Shez Spicey's win at Harold Park yesterday.
The 3-year-old pacer, who races in New Zealand as Spicey, paced her last 800m in 57s sitting parked to win the Sydney heat of the series, guaranteeing her a place in the August 14 semifinal.
Two more heats of the series will be held at Cambridge tomorrow - including the much-anticipated match race between superstars Changeover and Gotta Go Cullen.
The TAB has already taken a $3000 bet on Gotta Go Cullen at his opening odds of $4.20, forcing him into $3.30.
That saw Changeover at $1.30 last night.
"I can even see a situation where Changeover might get out further to $1.40 or more by race night [tomorrow]," said harness bookmaker Steve Richardson.
The race will screen line on Trackside at 9.48pm.
