By Michael Guerin
Some of the biggest names in the thoroughbred racing industry are changing codes - and it is going to cost them.
A syndicate of New Zealand's most prominent racing owners are part of a syndicate formed to pay a record price for a trotter sold in this country.
They have purchased five-year-old excitement machine Mountain Gold, one of the stars of the recent Interdominion Championships at Alexandra Park.
While the exact purchase price is not being made public at least $150,000 and possibly as much as $170,000 will change hands.
The money men include thoroughbred supremos like Cambridge Stud boss Patrick Hogan, Aucklanders Peter Walker (owner of Horse of the Year Tycoon Lil) and Bob Emery (owner of Melbourne Cup runner-up Champagne).
They will be joined in the eight-member syndicate by, among others, Sydney's Carlo La Rosa and Aucklander Bruce Carter, long time clients of harness racing training legend Barry Purdon, who will train Mountain Gold.
The price smashes the previous record paid for a straight-out trotter in New Zealand, the $100,000 given for Dragon's Pride in the early 1980s.
Mountain Gold has only won 10 of his 37 starts for owner-trainer Jim Smith but has blossomed in the last few months.
His latest win was a stunning effort in an Interdominion heat when he ran down subsequent Grand Final winner Special Force.
"I am thrilled to have him joining the stable because he has got enormous potential," said Purdon yesterday from Sydney, where he is preparing Holmes D G for a two-race campaign.
"Jim has done a great job with this horse and he is ready to become a star."
Purdon drove Mountain Gold in a private trial on Tuesday morning and was impressed by the feel of the 5-year-old.
"He has got a lot of speed and feels like a good horse should."
Mountain Gold's new owners won't have to wait long for a chance to recoup some of their outlay, with the chestnut one of the favourites for the $100,000 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park on April 30.
But their long term aim and one of the key reasons behind the purchase is the richest trotting race ever staged in the Southern Hemisphere - the $A500,000 Interdominion Trotting Grand Final to be run in Melbourne next season.
Horse Racing: Mountain of gold paid for potential trotting champ
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