NZB’s National Online Yearling Sale was credited with another new stakes-winning graduate when unbeaten two-year-old De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) took out the $110,000 Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday.
The National Online Yearling Sale has previously been put in the spotlight in recent times by unbeaten Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) heroine Well Written (Written Tycoon) and last season’s Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) winner Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish).
Otaki trainer Johno Benner paid $16,000 to buy De Armas from Elsdon Park's 2025 National Online Yearling Sale draft. The exciting filly has now had two starts for two wins and $86,250 in stakes, with the prospect of much more to come.
De Armas was a debut winner on her home track in September, easily beating just two opponents by four and three-quarter lengths. Her northern venture for Saturday’s Counties Challenge Stakes was a much tougher challenge, coming up against a well-credentialled field including impressive last-start winners Harvey Wallbanger (NZ) (Home Affairs), With A Vengeance (Exceed And Excel) and Speed Demon (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes). But De Armas passed the test with flying colours.
Jockey Kelly Myers had De Armas cruising on the outside of the leader before pushing the button in the straight. De Armas kicked clear and took command, going on to score an emphatic victory by a length and three-quarters over the strong-finishing favourite Harvey Wallbanger.
“I think she is the best horse I have put a saddle on,” Benner said. “I’ve said that to a few people, but I’ve tried to put a lid on it.
“I think she is going to be a better three-year-old, but coming here today will allow me to not have to come back up here again until the Karaka Millions (1200m, January 24).
“She is a beautiful cut of a filly and I don’t want to sound silly, but I said over breakfast I think she will win today and then I can put her away with 11 weeks to Ellerslie and I won’t need to run her again.”
Myers backed up Benner’s glowing assessment of the impressive winner.
“Calling her the best he’s trained is a big statement, he’s trained some good horses, but I just love this filly,” she said. “It was only her second start today and we had a sticky barrier, but she is just class.
“She was able to put herself right there and I knew they wouldn’t catch her. The further she goes, the faster she gets.
“The scary thing is she looks like she will be a better three-year-old, so who knows what we have got.”
Cambria Park will offer a half-brother to De Armas, by Banquo, as Lot 860 during the brand-new Karaka Summer Sale on January 29.
The 2026 National Online Yearling Sale will take place on leading online auction platform Gavelhouse Plus on April 14.
| Vendor | Elsdon Park |
| Purchaser | Benner Racing Ltd |
| Breeding | Ardrossan – Regal Winks |
| Sale | Lot 40, 2025 National Online Yearling Sale, $16,000 |
| Breeder | JML Bloodstock Ltd |
| Owner | S J Barber, P Packer,J W Benner, Mr A C & Mrs S L Leonardi, S P Pinfold, J McDonald, K Cockburn |
