A new website has just been launched, specialising in the selling of standardbreds throughout New Zealand and Australia. The site is called Standardbredsonline and owners and breeders throughout Australasia are able to place all types of stock for sale, including a monthly silent auction format for broodmares.

It is already being promoted heavily online and owners Stuart & Margaret Valentineare excited about its potential.

"We want this website to work for everyone's benefit. It's not a place for dreamers, time wasters or for persons looking to "value" their mares.

"If it works we all benefit. Like always, we will go back and re-invest in the industry. You will find that in the future and as the website grows in popularity Standardbredsonline will support harness racing in both countries, through race day and breeding association sponsorship etc."

The driving force behind the site has been to make it easier for owners and breeders to sell their stock, who are often disillusioned when putting their horses through public auctions. There is a sizeable cost associated with preparation, transport to and from and entry fees - and then commission is often charged whether it is a sale or a buy back.

One aspect of the website that is being heavily pushed is the monthly unreserved broodmare silent auction. Each month Standardbredsonline call for entries for the Broodmare Auction up to the 12th of the month. The auction then opens on the 15th and closes on the 28th, of each month, at 3pm NZ time.

The auction process is quite simple. The vendor submits the first bid which gets the auction rolling and is encouraged to keep a close eye on the auction throughout the auction process. The vendor can make the decision as to when they pull out of the bidding and accept what is being offered.

Another notable feature of the website is that auctions have a separate section for both New Zealand and Australian residing stock, and for convenience each auction is run in the currency where the horse resides.

The first auctions are presently running and everybody is encouraged to check out the website at www.standardbredsonline.com. To list a horse for sale you need to register an account, and then you can be up and running within minutes. There is no cost to register your account. Valentine also says that the Standardbredsonline team can help to "create a description deserving of your stock. We can certainly assist if required - you only have to ask."

"We know it will take a little while for all of us to make it work. No doubt there will be a bit of tweaking here and there in the weeks to come to attain the smooth running, and results for buyers and sellers."

The auction in progress has already had early bids made. There's two in the Australian section, Emmatwo and Bonnie Jayne, the vendor has advised "they are on the market".

In the New Zealand section there's Smooth Ice, the dam of Classy Filly in foal to Falcon Seelster, Minnis Folly in foal to Mach Three, all american bred mare Alta Magari in foal to Grinfromeartoear amongst the mares presently being auctioned. There's also a number of empty mares in both the Australian and New Zealand sections not in foal and all ready to be served once purchased.

The website is at www.standardbredsonline.com