Rob Tocker soaked up the atmosphere at Trentham races 20 years ago and said: "I've got to get involved in this."
The then Te Kuiti beef and sheep farmer should get his first payback from that involvement tonight when he produces the only colt in the Karaka yearling sales series by boom sire Anabaa.
The immediate past president of the Waipa Racing Club is only too aware that selling yearlings is all about fashion. This time last year the $A90,000 Tocker paid for the Anabaa colt's dam, Zoe's Appeal, at the Sydney Easter Broodmare sale a couple of years ago looked as though it may not have been the investment he imagined.
"The bookings to Anabaa, at that point without runners on the track, were not outstanding and it looked as though I might be flat getting my money back."
In fashion things change.
Last year Anabaa became the champion 2-year-old sire in France with his first crop and his first crop in Australia this season has followed the same pattern.
"He has had seven runners in Sydney for five winners, including one of the early Golden Slipper favourites Donatella."
The Anabaa, whose dam is a half sister to big-winning Melbourne galloper Gold Guru, is part of the draft from Westbury Stud, and its principal investors Russell Warwick and Eric Watson.
Westbury has 19 yearlings in the premier section of the sale.
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