Yearling Sales At Dunedin Most Successful Yet

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 5

Yearling Sales At Dunedin Most Successful Yet

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN.

The twenty-first annual New Zealand National Sales of Standardbred yearlings held at Tahuna Park, Dunedin, yesterday were by far the most successful since the sales were initiated. Records were broken in every department, except the top price for a colt.

The 82 lots which changed hands brought 41,280 guineas, an average price of 503gns, compared with 322gns last year and the previous best average of 366!gns in 1961, the last time the sales were held in conjunction with the InterDominion Championships. The top-priced yearling was a brown colt by Light Brigade from the Dillon Hall mare. Little Toff, offered by Mr J. W. G. Irving, of Oamaru. After spirited bidding he went to the Sydney trainer. P. J. Hall, for 1550gns. The record price for a colt at the sales is 4250gns, which was paid for the Local Light— Blue Revue colt, Blue, an ex-

ceptional colt, which as a yearling before the sales had established a world record of 2.9 1-5 for one mile. The previous record price for a filly—HOOgns paid for the Smokey Hanover —Melody Maid filly at Christchurch last year—was passed when an attractive yearling by Light Brigade from the Dillon Hall , mare, Aileen Hall, offered on ’ behalf of the Roydon Lodge L Stud, Ltd., was purchased by I Mr R. Croghan, of Sydney, r for HOOgns. ■ The filly is a half sister to Samantha, the winner of two ; Wellington Cups in succes- . sion, to Highland Don (10 wins), Adios Duenna, and t Rising Scott, the 1964 West i Australian Derby winner. A feature of the sales was - the tremendous increase in

r fillies, particularly those from I good winning families. The : 38 fillies sold realised 14,855gn5, an average of ; 391gns—three lots realised ■ more than lOOOgns. ' The Australians dominated t the sale, taking 55 lots for i 28,890gn5, an average of : 525gns. Australian buyers I took eight of the nine lots i to realise lOOOgns or more. : Sydney trainer, P. J. Hall, ’ was again most active, taking , five lots worth 5750gns, including four lots at lOOOgns i or more. In addition, Mrs > Hall paid 800gns for another • lot. ) Mr J. Ashton, of MelI bourne, on his first visit to t New Zealand, bought seven lots for 3835gns. They ins eluded a half-brother by i Smokey Hanover to the out-

standing three-year-old filly,Golden Oriole, which realised; 1350gns when offered on I account of Mrs N. J. Ormandy.' of Oamaru. Roydon Lodge Stud, Ltd.,! again had a most successful sale, six colts and three fillies realising 7400gns, an average price of 822gns. The successes on Saturday night of Johnny Chappelet, Gramel and Lordship, were reflected in the keen inquiry for the progeny of Johnny Globe. Both colts and fillies by this former champion were keenly sought after. The progeny of the defunct Light Brigade were even more keenly sought. He was sire of both the top-priced colt and the top-priced filly. The six of his progeny sold—four colts and two fillies—averaged more than llOOgns. The sale was conducted by National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., in conjunction with Wright Stephenson and Company, Ltd.