Curtin big spender at yearling sale

Press, 25 January 1988, Page 31

Curtin big spender at yearling sale

By

JEFF SCOTT

Besides outlaying $295,000 for Smooth Laughter at yesterday’s New Zealand Premier Yearling (Standardised) sale in Christchurch, John Curtin of Reporoa (Bay of Plenty) started the day rolling by purchasing one of four fillies totalling $89,000 in a joint venture with Alabar Farms of Australia.

Among the Curtins-Ala-bar contingent were Paris Royce (Lumber Dream— Adios Paris) for $12,500, Daphne Tudor (LordshipMary Elizabeth) for $B5OO, Princess El (El Patron—Portmadoc) for $43,000 and Tact Eva (Glen Almahurst—Tact Adios) for $25,000. “We will be leasing these four out for racing in New Zealand, but the two studs will retain them for breeding at the end of their racing careers,” said Curtin. Meanwhile Roydon Reign, the $340,000

daughter of Smooth Fella and Roydon Dream purchased last March by Curtins Farm and South Taranaki Bloodstock, has completed almost four months work with the Cambridge trainer, Charlie Hunter. “She’s run 2:15 for the mile on the last two weekends,” said Hunter. “She’s a lovely filly and is just at the stage where she is’ about to turn the corner.” Hunter hopes to have her firing for the autumn juvenile fillies’ events at Alexandra Park. Just as John Curtin was

a necessary ingredient of yesterday’s sale, once again so was the Sir Tristram of the standardbred world, the top commercial sire Smooth Fella, whose 22 lots sold for a whopping $685,000, an average of $31,136. As well as providing the top-priced filly, the Most Happy Fella entire was credited with the toppriced colt, Tuapeka Cavalier, a son of broodmare gem, Sakuntala, which realised $43,000 when sold to a New South Wales buyer. A total of 88 lots sold

for $1,340,250, at the first day of Pyne, Gould Guinness’s yearling sales for an average of $15,230. However 17 lots were repurchased by their respective vendors, due to the unreserved conditions of the sale, for a total of $169,500. Vendors have to pay an eight per cent commission to the auctioneers in the event of repossession. Pyne, Gould Guinness continue with their South Island Select Yearling Sale at the showgrounds today.