By Matt Markham
It’s lucky Barry Purdon was such a fan of Lot 409 at the NZ Premier yearling sales in Christchurch yesterday because he wasn’t so much of a fan of the price he had pay for the colt.
The master Auckland horseman went to $200,000 to secure the rights to own Mach Shard, a Mach Three colt out of outstanding broodmare Sly Shard – the highest price he has paid for a horse at the sales.
Offered by the Smith family of Invercargill under the banner of Shard Farm, the half-brother to Smiling Shard and Pemberton Shard, was subjected to some intense bidding between various parties before being knocked down to Purdon.
“He’s a standout colt. An expensive colt, but a standout colt all the same,” Purdon said.
“I liked everything about him from the moment I first saw him to be honest.
“He’s got a real presence about him and he carries himself rather impressively.
“It’s exciting to be able to get the chance to train him.”
Purdon wasn’t in a position to confirm definite owners for the colt, although he did say the Kevin Riseley and Trevor Casey would definitely be involved.
Meanwhile, Ian Dobson showed he’s still able to flex his muscles at the Sales, when he opened up with a $100,000 bid to buy the full-brother to open class pacer, Locharburn.
The hammer eventually fell to the owner of the colt’s sire, Christian Cullen, for $160,000 after Cran Dalgety attempted to make things interesting before realising Dobson’s intent was to head home with the horse.
Offered by Paul Walton and Helen Conaghan, Cullerburn looked every bit the part of Locharburn’s brother and his progress to the track will be closely monitored by many parties.
Early on in the day’s selling, Group One winning mare, Rona Lorraine produced her second $100,000 plus foal when her first colt, by Bettor’s Delight went for $132,500.
Purchased by long-time Ken Barron stable clients, Steve Thompson and Grant Dickey, the colt was a stand-out individual and fetched a price fitting of that.
A full-brother to standout mare, Fight For Glory, the colt kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the final moments of the sale.
The upstanding individual, who is the third foal of former NZ Record holder Breath Of Life, was offered by Dianne Cournane’s Diamond Head Lodge and was knocked down to big-spending Australian couple, Merv and Meg Butterworth for $170,000.
“His pedigree says a lot really, I was rather determined to get him,’’ Merv Butterworth said.
A very clearly over the moon Cournane described the moment as “simply wonderful” although she did admit to quite a few nerves when the colt was in the ring.
“I was rather nervous, I’d put a $150,000 reserve on him so all I really wanted was to reach that.
“To get to where he has is a great result and I’m very excited.”
The colt, dubbed Honor And Glory, will be headed to the All Stars Racing Stables of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
Yesterday’s sale gave the same feel as Tuesday’s effort with good horses again selling for good money while some others continued to struggle.
More pleasing was the list clearance rate, which after flat-lining at 75 per cent on Tuesday, lifted to 85 per cent yesterday giving an overall clearance rate for the two days in Christchurch of 80 per cent.
The combined average for the two days of selling closed off at $28,442 which was an increase from last year’s average of $26,777.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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