Racing: Sales star to remain a Kiwi

He may be English-born and entrenched in the Hong Kong racing scene.

But self-confessed Kiwi-Pom Matthew Oram made no secret of where his heart lies on the opening day of the National Yearling Sales at Karaka yesterday.

The 59-year-old founding publisher of Racing World magazine is adamant his $950,000 Zabeel-Marquise colt will fly the New Zealand flag wherever the first session star ends up racing.

"Even if his racing future is in Australia, I've always been a great believer in horses doing their early preparation here," said Oram.

"I'd prefer that he raced in New Zealand first so that when he does leave, no one else can claim him as their own."

Oram's Kiwi racing roots stretch back to a great-grandfather who died from a heart attack at a Dunedin race meeting and a grandfather who owned a Wellington Cup winner.

Along with American-based breeding partner Malcolm Glenn, Oram bought Marquise, the dam of yesterday's top-priced lot, for $130,000 at the National Sales in 1993.

With Glenn committed to other interests States-side, the decision was made to put their Zabeel colt, with a reserve of $600,000, through the sales ring yesterday to buy out his share.

Underbidder Rob McAnulty chased hard but Oram was committed to keeping a stake in the horse.

"The opportunity to own a good quality colt with stallion potential comes along rarely," said Oram, who has 15 years involvement in New Zealand bloodstock.

"I've usually been involved in mares but the pinnacle of racing is the stallion, no matter how brilliant the mare.

"But I won't be racing this colt by myself. I'll be putting a few other people into a syndicate in the next few weeks."

Oram said the Zabeel colt would do his early preparation with Bruce and Maureen Harvey at Ascot Farm in Cambridge.

The Harveys already have the Oram and Glenn owned Markisa, the 2-year-old Danehill half-sister who should be ready to race in the autumn.

Oram's bid stole the first session thunder from the last of the Southern Hemisphere Danehills on offer yesterday.

The Danehill-Magic Moment filly was the next highest lot sold, at $600,000 to BBA-Ireland, with a Danehill-Paint Me A Dream colt going for $400,000, also to Irish interests.

Last year's leading buyer, New Zealand trainer Graeme Rogerson got off to a flying start yesterday, snaring six lots, which included a $300,000 Danehill-Sarah Finch filly.

Overall the sales figures were healthy yesterday, with the first 120 yearlings averaging $131,275.

Last season's average over the three-day Premier catalogue was $111,955.

The day started very strongly, with buyers abandoning the cautious approach and attacking the big lots, with the session topper being just Lot 13.

It naturally slowed slightly in the middle of the session but New Zealand Bloodstock officials were still thrilled by the result.

Meanwhile, the VIPs of the buyers' bench turn their focus today to a potential sales-topper in the Giants Causeway-Champagne colt, who is expected through the ring a little after 3pm.

"I think a Danehill will top the sale but on type and pedigree he'd have to go close," said owner Ron Emery.

"There's been great interest in him so far and he's one of the better colts in the sale."

The colt's unraced Danehill half-brother was bought by Gai Waterhouse last year for $575,000.

Great start

* The annual premier yearling sales get off to a big start at Karaka.

* The top price was $950,000, paid for a son of the champion sire Zabeel.

* The colt could do his early racing in New Zealand.

* Yesterday's average price was up on last year.