The American-bred pacing sire died of a stomach rupture in March last year, but he has already left his mark on the New Zealand scene with pacers such as Mister Presley (nine New Zealand wins), Rocknroll Lass (eight wins) and Tatijana Bromac (four wins) to go with his stellar career as a sire in the United States.
Stiven believes he has the mix right with the bay colt.
''He's the only colt in the sale out of an Artsplace mare, who is the most potent pedigree cross on the planet. Rocknroll Hanover's best progeny and the majority of his biggest earners are out of Artsplace mares.
''You couldn't say he's a dead ringer, but he's pretty much the spitting image of his sire who is now deceased. He's a bit of a special commodity in that regard. He's an early-looking type. He's not too overly big and he looks a 2yr-old to my eye.''
Designer Arden is one of four pacing yearlings Stiven has consigned for the Christchurch leg of the standardbred sales next Tuesday and Wednesday. The other three are colts by Panspacificflight.
The Macca Lodge sire has served light numbers in his first three seasons, but already has three qualifiers from his first crop, including Glenisla, who was fourth in the Young Guns fillies' heat at Alexandra Park on January 24.
''He's done a huge job in the States so far, being a champion sire in Indiana off his first crop, and the people here are starting to learn more about him,'' he said.
Stiven expects the cross with Artsplace mares to work just as well for Panspacificflight as it did with Rocknroll Hanover. The first result is a colt named First Class Arden.
''The Panspacificflights have crossed well with Artsplace in the States so we're looking forward to someone having some fun with him.''
The other two colts by Panspacificflight prepared by Stiven are out of Scherger Rein (five wins) and Tarseal Queen, who is out of a half-sister to 2001 Northern Derby winner All Hart.
''Scherger Rein had a Panspacificflight last year and he sold well, and the people are happy with him. This one looks just as nice a type as the other one.''
Stiven is not sure what to expect from the four days of sales across the week, but hopes the buyers will be there.
''Overall, hopefully it's a bit more buoyant than it's been.''
Fewer horses at the sales would be a help but there were also fewer horses racing and the clubs were finding it hard to fill fields, he said.
