Spectacular sales buyer opposes move to Auckland

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 26

Spectacular sales buyer opposes move to Auckland

By

J. J. BOYLE

“I think it’s a shame, a mistake to see the sale go from Trentham.”

That was the reaction of the record-breaking Sydney trainer, Tommy Smith, yesterday to the announcement that the venue of the National thoroughbred yearling sales will be changed from Trentham to Auckland, a change that might come as soon as 1987.

Tommy Smith, who bought Tulloch out of the Trentham sale ring for 750gns and prepared him to win 36 races, said a yearling sale at Trentham in association with a Wellington Cup carnival was an ideal arrangement.

“We could move into New Zealand through Auckland early enough in January to have a bit of holiday and

see the yearlings at the studs if we wished to. Then on to Wellington for the sales and to see your best stayers run in the Wellington Cup,” Smith said.

Smith said his main interest was in stayers and he could get valuable insights into the quality of current and future stayers from his observations of racing at Trentham in January. “I’ve no wish to got to a race meeting in Auckland around the time they have a sale there and see two-year-olds run.

“It will be a case of jump on the plane, do an Auckland sale, and get on the plane home again.” Smith, who has spent millions on New Zealandbred yearlings since his first visit to Trentham in 1948, said he had heard of a proposed shift to Auckland

some years ago, and he had opposed it from the start

The decision to make the switch was made when the council of the New Zealnd Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association met in Christchurch this week.

Leaders of the breeders’ organisation were in consultation with Mr Michael Flloyd, of Wrightson Bloodstock, the organisation that conducts the sale.

Mr Brian Guthrie, secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, said yesterday his immediate reaction was that such a decision should not be made by the breeders’ council alone.

“Obviously it’s a decision to be made by the board of Wrightson Bloodstock. If the company has made that decision we have nothing further to gain by opposing the move. But I think a lot of

people must realise that there can be serious repercussions when you change tradition,” Mr Guthrie said.

“Our club will not be changing its dates for our major carnival, and I can visualise a lot of our trainers will be in two minds where they should be at that time of the year," Mr Guthrie said.

“I feel their first duty will be to the horses they are training for group races that are being held at Trentham, and not attending the sales, which could be to the detriment of the bloodstock industry.”

Mr Guthrie said his com- . mittee would be meeting 1 next Monday, and on its agenda would be considera- •' tion of increases in stakes for its major races at its 1987 Cup meeting.