Two studies on marketing

Press, 19 October 1976, Page 29

Two studies on marketing

PA Wellington The council of the New Zea I land Thoroughbred Breeder s’ Association has received two studies on the marketing of ■ yearlings in New Zealand. i The council had placed before •it a lengths survey titled -•‘National Yearling Sale” com 1 piled by the management von suitants. Barr Burgess As.so . elates. j This studs was the one com missioned b\ the joint auctioneers at the National sale. Wrightson NMA and Pyne. I Gould. Guiness, and the asso I elation. The second study. ’A Venue Policy lor Thoroughbred Sales in New Zealand.’’ was commix sinned by the Auckland and Wai kato branches of the association and prepared by Cocks I.apish and Compton, engineers and survcyors. A meeting of the council last ■ week deferred consideration of both reports on the ground that lit had not had time to examine them in detail. The meeting also t ejected a motion from the Auckland branch seeking the council’s authority to discuss matters in the survey with the Auckland racing club. The council will hold a special meeting to consider both studies, take into account an\ additional information which comes to light and discuss the issues with representatives of the selling agents on November, 16. A statement from the auctioneers quoted from the Barr Burgess report but onl\ briefly Accordingto the auctioneers I

the report Auckland has the greatest potential tor developing both overseas and domestic markets, but the cost of a new sales complex in Auck land would be vonsideiable and jthe breeding industry as a whole must be convinced that the longterm advantages would wairant the resultant substantial increased selling costs.' If the industry decided those costs were not warranted, two alternatives remained, the auctioneers said. One of these was to extend the Claudelands (Hamilton! complex to accommodate the National sale The other was to promote a sales senes on the basis of existing facilities at Claudelands and Trentham Though both of those plans had the merit of lesser cost, there were serious drawback" firstly the anticipated opposition of overseas buyer* to ('laudelands as an international venue and secondly their apparent resistance at present to attendihg two sale* over a fortnight The auctioneers said opinions disclosed in the survex *ug Rested that the most important factors a fleeting the success of the sale were the selection of yearlings. the standard of sale facilities and the standaid of ' accommodation for visiting box • “The report, which is verv dej tailed and extensive, will require careful studv and discussion by ! all concerned.” the auctioneers isaid. “If over all agreement can be reached, further major progress could be made which would benefit the whole thoroughbred breeding industry ”