Racing: Australians busy at sales buying 35 lots

Peter Chambers best summed up the reason why Australians went on a spending spree at the Karaka standardbred yearling sales on Saturday.

"Your breed is just better, more advanced than ours," said the huge-spending Chambers, who is based in Jakarta. He bought 11 lots at the Australasian Classic Sales, among a total of 35 yearlings bought by Australians.

Many of them were at the top end of the market and Chambers says that is where New Zealand has it over Australia.

"The yearlings are very well prepared over here and come from strong, established families."

Chambers is a huge new force in Australasian harness racing, now having more than 70 horses and loves buying fillies.

"I am in this for the long haul and want to have a good broodmare band."

His other love is trotters and he bought three of the top trotting lots on Saturday as well.

"I think there is more upside to trotters internationally."

Chambers' purchases will not all be lost to New Zealand, though, with only three heading to Australia straight away, to be trained in Victoria by Craig Demmler. The rest will be split between Canterbury trainers Mark Jones and Steve McRae.

Chambers was backed up by Sydney couple Emilo and Mary Rosati, who also spent at the top end, paying $135,000 for a Christian Cullen colt and $112,500 for a son of top US sire Rocknroll Hanover.

But the Kiwis were not shut out, with Auckland businessman Kerry Hoggard, his wife Marilyn and daughter Helen paying $170,000 for the top lot.

She was a sister to the Hoggards' former champion filly and Harness Jewels winner Lizzie Maguire and will, like her sister, be trained by Gareth Dixon, who also secured other richly-bred lots at the high end of the market and would have be smiling more than most Kiwi trainers on Saturday night.

Lincoln Farms, fresh from owning Karaka Million winner Fort Lincoln in the thoroughbred world, also broke the $100,000 mark when they paid $110,000 for a magnificent Christian Cullen colt.

Most of the big names in the New Zealand training ranks were active on Saturday, although leading trainer Mark Purdon was not getting carried away, suggesting he may not buy as many yearlings this week as in recent years.

Geoff and Ian Small's Zenola Farms was busy, as were Tony Herlihy, Cran Dalgety, Tim Butt and Nigel McGrath.

But with three days of selling to go in Christchurch, starting today, and Australians, like Chambers, not heading south, some New Zealand trainers will fancy their chances more in Canterbury.

Overall, the sale was strong but patchy, with the average slightly down at $30,100 but the clearance rate up at 84 per cent.

"We were thrilled because the way the economy has been some people were predicting a tough sale but the overall results were very strong," said auctioneer PGG Wrightson's Rachel Deegan.

"And the Aussies were very strong, as we thought they would be."

Meanwhile, Tony Herlihy sits stranded on 2999 career driving wins in New Zealand after a frustrating run of placings at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Herlihy finished second by a head twice among five placings and will try to reach the milestone at Alexandra Park again this Friday.

Sales of $40,000 and more included:

R L & D C Kennedy, F Christian Cullen-Unrehearsed, Gareth Dixon, $170,000.

S B & A M Phillips, C Art Major-Waitfornoone, K M Barron, $62,500.

J W Smith, C Mach Three-Angela Patron, Cran Dalgety, $44,000.

Old Ridge Services, F McArdle-Alta Vista, Gareth Dixon, $46,000.

Highfield Bloodstock, C Art Major-Almost An Angel, Montana Park, $76,000.

J P Green, C Mach Three-Tosti Girl, M Purdon, $45,000.

La Grange Farm, F Bettor's Delight-Child In Time, M Guerin, $44,000.

L A & P L Turner, C Mach Three-Tigerish, Buy Back, $52,500.

S Martin, C American Ideal-Armbro Ice, M Purdon, $80,000.

Highfield Bloodstock, F Christian Cullen-Belleruche, PGW as agent, $77,000.

Bromac Lodge, C Christian Cullen-Classic Blue Jeans, E & M Stride, $135,000.

Abernethy Racing Stables, C Bettor's Delight Blistering Belle, B Purdon, $57,500.

J P Green, F Christian Cullen-Delightful Paula, Rattray & McLaughlin, $92,500.

Classical Syndicate, C Mach Three-Classical, N McGrath, $47,500.

S Martin, F Christian Cullen-Elect To Live, Mark Jones, $85,000.

Regal Lodge Stud, C Christian Cullen-Foreal, Premier Stables, $80,000.

Coburg Syndicate, C Christian Cullen-Coburg Premier Stables, $80,000.

79 Highfield Bloodstock, C Bettor's Delight-Gift Of Grace Cran Dalgety, $50,000.

P G Baillie & E C Storck, F Artsplace-Have A Go Franco, Buy Back, $61,000.

C J Roberts, C American Ideal-In Hollywood, Lincoln Farm, $60,000.

B Lichter, F Monarchy-Landora's Image, The Overport Lodge Trust, $70,000.

Hot Shoe Shuffle Breeding Syndicate, F Art Major-Hot Shoe Shuffle, The Overport Lodge Trust, $65,000.

R L & D C Kennedy, C Bettor's Delight-Miss Jubilee Gareth Dixon, $85,000.

Croon Bloodstock, F Bettor's Delight-Matter Of Fact, M Purdon, $45,000.

Jordash Breeding Trust, F Bettor's Delight-Soleil D'or, Cran Dalgety, $70,000.

Bromac Lodge, F Art Major-Morad PGW as agent, $70,000.

R L & D C Kennedy, C Mach Three-Mystic Gold, Mike Reed, $65,000.

Mhaira Breeding Syndicate, C Mach Three-Mhairi, Stonewall Stud, $51,000.

S D L Wood, C Christian Cullen-Precious Maiden, Lincoln Farm, $110,000.

Alta Breeding, C Christian Cullen-Right This Time, P Kerr, $50,000.

J Syndicate, F Muscles Yankee-Petite's Pride, The Overport Lodge Trust, $70,000.

Stonewall Stud, C Rocknroll Hanover-Sav Blanc For Mee, E & M Stride, $112,500.

Jayvee Breeding Syndicate, C McArdle-Pocketfullofposies, S Reid, $45,000.

T J & L C Ryder Bloodstock, C Mach Three-Star Of The Ball, K M Barron, $40,000.

KARAKA SALES

* The Australians made the expected splash at the Karaka standardbred yearling sales on Saturday.
* The sale was strong but patchy.
* The average was slightly down on last year but the clearance rate well up.
* The sales continue today in Christchurch.