More than 430 standardbreds to be sold next week

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 25

More than 430 standardbreds to be sold next week

By

G K YCLF

Even lhe must optimistic observers are not predicting dramatic increases in aggregate or averages when the main round ot standardbred sales is held in New Zealand next week The sales will start with a catalogue of 99 lots al Auckland next Monday, followed by 42 lots at a dispersal of horses owned by Mr Clarrie Rhodes, of Peterson Lodge. Templeton, on Tuesday afternoon.

Then, on Thursday, at Addington. will be lhe national yearling sales, with a catalogue of 226 lots, and the following day there will be 71 lots offered at the sale of mixed stuck al the same venue.

This years catalogue lor the national yearling sales is

not a Selected one. insufficient entries having been received to necessitate the elimination of some of the lots not considered to be

sound commercial propose lions.

The introduction of an offering fee of 2 per cent on lots passed in at $2500 or more lias created some opposition. while other regular vendors teel that the prices they have obtained have been insufficient to meet the cost of production. Rather than sell at a loss they have decided lo put their horses in to work in the hopes that they show sufficient promise to attract higher prices. Until recent times buyers from the North Island have been fairly substantial operators at the sales, but there has been a substantial increase in the number of horses being bred there with a consequential drop in demand for yearlings from the Seitlli Island.

Witli an over-supply of horses being bred both in Australia and New Zealand, buyers are becoming much more selective in the.lots in

which they are interested. Yearlings from mares which have not left winners from several foals, or were poor performers on the racecourse. now fall into the doubtful" category as iar as buyers are concerned. Last year 121 lots were sold al an average price of $4329. while there were 79 passings. In 1980 122 lots were sold al an average price of $4056, while there were 96 passings. When the sales were held in conjunction with the InlerD'lmimon Championship series at Addington in 1979. 136 lots were .sold at a record average- ' price of $5112 In 1979 Australians look 77 i"ls for an average of $5472: lhe following year the average was $6192 tor only 19 lots. Last year the average was $6278 for 25 lots, but all-in-all australian interest was very limited. A spokesman fur lhe auc-

lioneers. Wrtghlson Bloodstock. Ltd. said yesterday that there was considerable interest being shown in the catalogues in Australia, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland. Buyers from New South Wales and Victoria are again expected lo be in Christchurch in reasonable numbers, while there could be some inquiry from North America. -Australia, too, is producing mure horses than the market can absorb. The recent Sydney sales saw 231 lots sold for ;m average price ol $26711. down slightly on the average of $2694 for 293 lots in 1931). In 1979 tin- average there was sliglillv more than $3OllO There will be inletest in the yearlings by first-season sires such as Nat l.obell. which will have nine fillies and eight colts. .Alba Counsel. Beau Nnnantais. Colonel Kenton. Due's Tuik. Kev-

stone Mutiny, Honkin Andy. Meddlesome, Midshipman and Rip Van Winkle. Then there are proven imported sires such as Armbro Del. El Patron.' Lumber Dream. Knowing Bret. Out to Wm. Game Pride. Boyden Hanover. Lopez Hanover. Timely Knight. Scottish Hanover. Smooth Fella. Tudor Hanover and Tiger Wave, as well as New Zealand-bred stallions of the calibre of Lordship. Noodlum. Good Chase. Young Charles. Great Evander. and Dryham Lea. Rosewood Stud. Annul, with 13 lots, has the greatest representation in the sale, while Mr Geoff Glenie. of Ashburton, will have eigii! lots Reydon Lodge Stud. Weediqi'. a strong supporter of lhe sales (or many yeat.s. will have seven Juts, while Mr Les Thomas. o| Anna!, will have six and Mr Colin McLaughlin, of Chertsey. will have five.