Sale of Nigel Craig certain

Press, 17 April 1978, Page 16

Sale of Nigel Craig certain

Nigel Craig, the first trot-1 ter to break the two-minute barrier for one mile in New Zealand, has been sold to a New York clothing manufacturer, for $lOO,OOO, a record price for a horse of this gait in this country. Nigel Craig trotted his national mile record of Imin 58.8 sec at Addington Raceway last season. During a career studded with outstanding displays of speed and courage he seldom failed to finish in the first five. He| won 26 races and almost’

: $97,000 in stakes for Lancei and Bevan Heron, who| trained him at Amberley. I Nigel Craig was purchased by Michael Gagliardi, of Meadowlands, on behalf of a client, with Mr Kevin Ryder, of Christchurch, acting as agent. “We’ve got a deposit of $lO,OOO and will finish up with $lOO,OOO clear.” said; Lance Heron at Methven on! Saturday. - ' “I didn’t want to sell. The i money’s no good to me at my stage of life, but it’s!

different for Bevan. He’s just, (bought some extra land and; (he’s got a young family,” said Lance Heron. “I’ve never had a horse like him and will never get another. He’s given us tre-| mendous pleasure and it’s a! shame he’s got to go.” he I added. Nigel Craig, an eight-year-old gelding by Protector from Pipetre, was bred at Murchison by Mr Dave Oxnam, and he was bought for $475 at the 1971 national yearling sales.

Nigel Craig’s most important success was achieved at Addington last November when, after a spine-tingling contest, he beat Best Bet in the $20,000 Dominion Handicap to the delight of a big crowd. Nigel Craig is booked to leave for New York early next month. It is probable that Bevan Heron will accompany him and stay with him for his first fortnight with his new trainer so '.e can explain his shoeing and training methods.