Racing: Harness newcomer forks out $170,000

Rob McAnulty is thrilled with his purchase, a Christian Cullen colt called Davy Maguire. Picture / Greg Bowker

It wasn't just the price but the buyer that had standardbred breeders rubbing their hands over a $170,000 colt at Karaka yesterday.

The Australasian Classic Yearling sale was a huge success, with a record average of $28,126.

That came through strong buying right across the market, with all the industry's biggest players involved.

But the sales topper, a Christian Cullen colt from Soky's Sunday, went to a newcomer to the harness racing industry in Rob McAnulty, who for years has been one of New Zealand's most successful thoroughbred buyers.

McAnulty is these days based in Melbourne but his interest in standardbreds as investments has been increased in the last year by the deeds, and subsequent big money purchases as future stallions, of superstar pacers Elsu and Pay Me Christian.

That was enough to see McAnulty organise a syndicate to purchase the colt, a half-brother to open class speedster Niobium, who will be trained by Gareth Dixon.

"Essentially it is a bit of fun for me and some of my mates but I have also been impressed by how far the harness racing breeding has come," said McAnulty.

"The industry seems to be in good heart and there are big races right throughout Australasia, which give us a chance to race this horse on both sides of the Tasman if he makes it.

"This horse wouldn't be out of place in a 2-year-old race at Ellerslie [galloping].

"He is a prime example of how much the standardbred yearlings have improved in recent years. The whole breed here has taken a step ahead."

McAnulty believes our best-bred standardbreds are now serious stallion prospects, which has so often been a major factor in his purchases of thoroughbred yearlings.

The colt continued the remarkable rise through the harness racing ranks for vendor Ray Kennedy, who just a few years ago was a lawyer trying to farm in his spare time in Gisborne.

"I was going mad doing that and decided I had to get out of it otherwise I would work myself to death," said Kennedy.

Kennedy and his wife Diana set up Jubilee Park in Waikato and now breed from 25 broodmares.

"We knew a lot of people liked this fella but to get $170,000 is a dream come true. I am almost in tears."

McAnulty wasn't the only buyer impressed by the standard yesterday, with several happy to pay $100,000 for top lots.

That sum was topped five times, all for pacing-bred lots while there was also strong interest in the first sons of trotting stallion Muscles Yankee.

His colt, a half brother to Allegro Agitato, was the top trotting-bred yearling, fetching $73,000 for Canterbury owners Clive and Rona McKay.

The big winner among the trainers yesterday was Dixon, whose owners secured eight lots, including two others to break the six-figure mark.

Dixon will also be taking home the sales-topping filly, a Christian Cullen daughter of Corbie, who went for $125,000 and the $100,000 Falcon Seelster colt from Rose To Stardom who won the best presented award on Sunday.

Auctioneers PGG Wrightson were thrilled with the results yesterday, although not surprised.

"When we first looked at this catalogue we knew it was something special," said spokesman Bruce Barlass.

"We just had so many lots by top sires that could go on to make stallions themselves if they do the job on the racetrack."

Barlass said the strength of the sale at the top and middle brackets meant some hopeful buyers went home disappointed.

"But that is the sign of a good sale and should mean we can maintain the momentum through the next two days of the sales in Christchurch."

The sales move there today and finish tomorrow.

GALLOPING INVASION

* Leading thoroughbred buyer Rob McAnulty tops the Karaka sale yesterday.

* He paid $170,000 for a Christian Cullen colt offered by Jubilee Park.

* Super sire Christian Cullen was the star of the day.

* The average of $28,126 was a record for a New Zealand standardbred sale.