Hardly the point - price is irrelevant weighed against securing the right horses then developing a stable environment that can convert that animal into a group one winner.
That's a hell of a lot easier to say than to actually achieve. Since joining Te Akau three years and three months ago, trainer Jason Bridgman has produced more black type winners than any of the country's mentors.
The modest and readily available horseman won the 1000 Guineas with King's Rose, the 2000 Guineas with Rock 'N Pop followed up with Saturday's result.
Standing off to the side as Leith Innes brought Costa Viva back to the Riccarton birdcage was Te Akau's assistant trainer Pam Gerrard.
If she is a little publicly unsung, she is highly thought of within the fold.
"Five weeks ago Pam said goodbye to her two young children at Matamata and headed south with four horses," said David Ellis yesterday.
"She produced a Costa Viva - Chambord quinella result in the Ray Coupland Stakes, won the Spring Classic Hcp with Viana, took second in the 2000 Guineas with Chambord and has now taken a first and third 1000 Guineas result.
"I think it's a fantastic result for racing in this country that we have people with that level of dedication. It's not easy to buy horses and have them perform at group one level at their fourth start. We bought 25 per cent [two from eight] of that 1000 Guineas field and took away a good percentage of the stakemoney."
Ellis is recovering from heart surgery and was not at Riccarton. "I've been to the races only once in the last seven months, but my doctor has cleared me to start work fulltime as of today and I'm going to be a player at the Ready To Run sale at Karaka this week.
