ALTOUGH the war has been won, pride is still on the line ahead of tomorrow’s last round of Australian Pacing Gold Sales.
During the past couple of months Michael Court and I have engaged in an office rivalry regarding yearling selections, with each picking a filly and colt/gelding we felt was the best on offer during the various Australian Pacing Gold Sales.
Our choices aren’t a guide to prospective sales’ toppers, but rather a “that one looks good” process.
That said, it just so happened the filly I selected – Lot 51 – was the sales’ topper during the Gold Coast Sale…fetching $100,000!
Melbourne was a different story, with Michael’s colt – Lot 171 – selling for $23,000 while my colt – Lot 218 – was knocked down for $21,000.
Proving once again I have a good eye for fillies, my Lot 224 was purchased for $22,000, with Michael’s selection – Lot 143 – fetching $5000.
Across the Nullarbor, Michael’s Lots 303 and 345 sold for $40,000 and $45,000, whereas my two – Lots 312 and 365 – where purchased for $85,000 and $65,000.
With the ledger sitting at five-to-one ratio in my favour across the three sales, I hold an unbeatable lead, but my well-seasoned colleague will definitely try to ‘save face’ and retain some pride during his hometown Sale.
I on the other hand want to evoke a ‘counting coup’ on Michael by defeating him three times by winning the overall sale as I did in Brisbane and Perth.
For his filly, Michael has chosen Lot 525, a daughter of Warrawee Needy and La Saint.
“For some reason I have kept an eye out for progeny of Warrawee Needy and this filly, out of La Saint caught my eye and when I saw that her dam was also the mother of former New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge winner No Ah Saint I guess I was hooked,” Michael said.
“I watched the video and loved her nature and the way she moved. The four white socks? I’ll tell Paul Courts decipher that one. But she does look an absolute natural to this untrained observer.”
Lot 625 – by Always B Miki from Bainfeild Washington – is Michael’s colt, with the youngster a well-related type.
“Call me a soft touch, but I looked at this colt and thought ‘wow, where do I sign?’” Michael said. “I remember his dam Bainfeild Washington winning a heat of the New South Wales Oaks and she has since produced a handy one in Speedy Dominic, which won something like 14 races at big tracks like Menangle and Albion Park and smaller tracks like Penrith before being sold to race in the US, where I believe he has won more races.
“Looks a striking colt by a sire with a proven track record and this youngster is bound to be worth following.”
Michael has made some admirable selections, but he’ll probably fall short – again – given the looks of my Lots 539 (colt) and 623 (filly).
I’m not going to provide a spiel about breeding – they are by a sire from a dam – or memories of family history, but simply say they are good looking horses and then let the photos and catalogue do the rest.
Happy bidding!
– PAUL COURTS
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