TROTTING Yearling Sales Depend On Australian Support

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 5

TROTTING Yearling Sales Depend On Australian Support

Support from Australia will govern the success of the twenty-fourth national sales of standard-bred yearlings to be held at the Show Grounds, Addington, on February 26, two days after the finish of the InterDominion Championship series at Alexandra Park.

A record catalogue of 158 lots has been attracted, but the number to be produced will probably be less than 150 as already there have been some withdrawals, including a brother to Golden Oriole which had attracted much interest.

The sale is expected to be helped by devaluation. A line on prospects should be gained during the Inter-Dominion carnival when there will be a sale of some 90 lots at Auckland, and a dispersal sale of 50 lots owned by Mr W. Hosking, of Waiuku, who Is retiring from trotting. Last year when the sales drew a number of poor lots the average prices for 71 lots sold was 469 guineas, a big drop over 1966 when 85 lots were sold at an average price of 530 guineas. The previous year, when the sales were held in conjunction with the Inter-Dominion series at Forbury Park, the average price was 503 guineas.

Australian buyers at last year’s sales were much more selective than in other years and they bought 23 lots at an average price of 485 guineas. In 1966, 32 went to Australia. The great majority of entries at this year’s sales are single lots, quite a number of which will be offered on behalf of persons who have bred only for the sales. Top Last Year

Rosewood Stud, Annat, which is being developed into one of New Zealand’s leading breeding establishments by Mr O. J. Watson and his sons, J. O. and D. G. Watson, topped the sales 12 months ago when they received 2000 guineas for a colt by Forward from Wee DolL The stud will this year have four colts, all of which are certain to attract keen competition both from Australia and New Zealand, especially as one of their close relations, Royal Society, won the New South Wales Sires’ Produce Stakes earlier in the season. Roydon Lodge Stud last year topped the prices in the fillies’ section, receiving 1150 guineas for one by Killamey

t Hal from Samantha, and 1025 i guineas for one by Thurber ! Frost from Spangled Brigade. This year, Roydon Lodge 1 will have seven lots which 1 are certain to be among the more keenly sought offerings. Mr D. D. Moore, of Temple- ' ton, is another who is breeding mainly for the sales. His four lots to be offered this year look to be as good as anything he has offered in the past when he has received several four-figure prices.

The Yaldhurst breeder, Mr A. B. Holmes, is one of the bigger vendors this year, with six lots. Mr Holmes has in the past not always received prices in keeping with the breeding of his yearlings, but he has usually met the market, with buyers often securing bargains. Mr P. P. Roberts, of Maheno, has been a regular supporter of the sales, with his lots always being among the better-produced ones. As a result, he has received high average prices. Mr P. A- Watson, of Methven, has in the past had only an occasional lot at the sales, but this year he will have four yearlings. All descend from the great foundation mare, Purple Patch, and they will be keenly sought after. Mr S. R. Messervy, of! Christchurch, will receive one: of the top prices for his colt by Local Light from Melody Maid, one of the best winnerproducing mares in the Stud Book. The majority of Melody Maid’s progeny have been offered at the sales and more often than not they have bought top price.

New Sires

Several new sires will appear in the catalogue. They include Bachelor Hanover and Lumber Dream.

Some yearlings by Bachelor Hanover were sold recently at a sale held at Carlton Stud, Sydney. One from the New Zealand-bred mare, Bashful, the dam also of Guiseppe, Diamond Hanover, Damian, Torrent, and others, realised

At the same sale, a colt by Goodland from the Christ-church-owned mare, Pelota, realised $4lOO, while a filly by Johnny Globe from Meadow Fair realised $2300, a record for a filly. Garrison Hanover, Johnny Globe, and Thurber Frost, whose progeny are enjoying successful seasons in New Zealand and Australia, are widely represented at the sales, and, depending on the successes of their progeny at the Inter-Dominion carnival, they should be credited with many of the highest prices.

The annual sale of brood mares and racing stock will be held on Tuesday, February 27, and once more strong Australian support is expected. American buyers are also expected to be operating freely in New Zealand in the next few weeks, but they will be concentrating on horses of four years and older, with a view to having them ready to race at the peak of the season in the United States from the end of March until midNovember.

Australian Campaign

W. D. Barnes, who has trained a small team at Little River, is to leave this week for Australia where he will campaign the two-year-olds, Viva Amigo and Viva Amurl. Viva Amigo is by Great Evander from Rascal, while his companion is by Local Light from Shell Grattan.

They will be joined in a few weeks by Viva Reine and Vivi Zabata, both of which have shown promise in the little racing they have done about Canterbury. Vauxhall Prince has been secured by Mrs J. Bowden, of Nundah, and he will do his future racing in Queensland. Vauxhall Prince showed considerable ability at times, but he was not noted for consistency.

The promising trotter, Local Pepper, has been sent to join the Sydney team of her part-owner, W. Picken. Local Pepper won twice when trained at Tinwald by D. J. Townley.

$4600, a record for a yearling at auction in Australia.