By Matt Markham
A new face emerged as a big spender on the first day of the New Zealand Premier Sale in Christchurch yesterday.
West Melton horseman, Paul Court, is renowned for being associated with good horses, largely thanks to the deeds of triple NZ Trotting Cup winner Terror To Love, but he’s never been a major player when it comes to sales time.
This week however he changed that in one massive swoop.
Court went to $130,000 to secure himself the Bettor’s Delight colt from Lulabelle Midfrew.
Offered by the Mooney family, the colt is a half-sister to recent PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Series winner, Luisanabelle Midfrew.
“The family is really developing and it was pretty hard to ignore him,” Court said.
“He’s got a magnificent walk, his really reaches when he strides, I just liked everything about him to be honest.”
Court was still finalising ownership of the colt last night but was hoping to be able to confirm that within the next few days.
Big spending stable owner, Lin Lang is a potential owner for the colt.
The equal top lot of yesterday’s first day of selling in Christchurch was one of three horses Court has purchased in the past two days.
He spent $90,000 in Auckland on Monday purchasing two lots for $45,000.
The first was a Christian Cullen colt who is a half-brother to Gaius Caesar while the other was a Bettor’s Delight colt from the foundation mare of the Whitelock family, Braeside Star.
“They’ll both be syndicated to the same group of owners, I really like them both.
“I was lucky too in the fact that I didn’t have to go to really high prices to get them, I thought they were both pretty fair.”
Robert Dunn and stable client Ross Gordon paid $130,000 for the day’s other equal highest colt – a Bettor’s Delight colt out of Free As A Bird.
“I bought his half-brother last year by Somebeachsomewhere and I really like him,’’ Dunn said.
“He’s up in Auckland and progressing along quite nicely.”
Dunn also went to $105,000 to get his hands on the Bettor’s Delight filly from Group One winning mare, Lancome for a largely Ashburton based syndicate which includes Alan Neumann.
Oamaru owner and breeder, Bev Williamson, made a rare appearance at the sales as a vendor, but like Court, she made an impact.
The wife of prominent trotting trainer, Phil, offered up a colt from Angus Hall from outstanding trotting mare, Jasmyn’s Gift,
He was knocked down to the same anonymous buyer of Monday’s $230,000 colt at Karaka for $105,000.
That went close to the top trotting lot for the day, but late in the day Invercargill owners and breeders Ben and Karen Calder shelled out $110,000 for a son of Love You from good producing mare, Paramount Star.
The brother to Paramount Geegee attracted plenty of action in the ring but the Calders’ held firm and were rewarded with the telling bid.
Overall yesterday’s first day of selling left many vendors feeling a little further past frustrated after a large number of horses were left unsold.
The sale went flat at stages with multiple lots struggling to stretch past the $20,000 mark although some strong stages during the middle part of the sale will help the final numbers.
Again it was the progeny of the incomparable Bettor’s Delight which shone through – continuing an outstanding week for Woodlands Stud principal, Charlie Roberts who celebrated his 92nd birthday on Monday.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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