Racing: $180,000 tops Karaka sale

Chris and Tina Barlow with their Art Major colt, who fetched $180,000. Photo / Richard Robinson

Jess Moore had an interesting phone call to make from Karaka yesterday.

During it he was going to have to explain to Perth-based owner Rob Watson how he spent $180,000 of his money at the Australasian Classic Yearling Sales.

Trainer Moore was sent by Watson to Karaka yesterday to buy the Art Major colt from Sabelle but wasn't expected to spend up to $180,000.

"But it was early in the morning in Perth so Rob wasn't available on the phone," explains Moore.

"So I just kept going and bought it and I'll explain to him later. I'll sure he will be fine with it."

The lot was the top colt of the sale, which hardly surprised vendor Chris Barlow.

Barlow is a long-haul pilot for Air New Zealand but with his wife Tina prepared a good draft for yesterday's standardbred sales.

"But this colt was the best yearling we have ever bought to the sales," said Barlow.

"Still, we are thrilled with the price."

The colt, who will head straight to Perth, shared the top price yesterday with a Christian Cullen filly out of Personality Plus.

The sister to Sir Clive, himself a sales ring star, was knocked down to dual-code trainer Graeme Rogerson, continuing a massive recent fortnight at the sales after being one of the leading buyers at the thoroughbred sales.

The filly, named Lips And Legs, is only the second foal from Personality Plus and was one of the super strong draft from Croon Bloodstock.

Another was the sale's top trotting lot, the colt by Love You from Rock'n Rhonda who fetched $107,500 - one of the highest sums ever paid for a trotting-bred yearling in Australasia.

It was bought by Lincoln Farms, run by Auckland supermarket owners John Street and Graeme Blackburn.

The partners rarely invest in trotters even though they have previously won an Interdominion with Galleons Sunset.

"We have always wanted to buy a really top trotting lot and it sounds like the European stallions are the way to go," said Street.

"I take my hat off to Rod Croon for being brave enough to breed to a French stallion like that and he looks like a horse who will run early."

The colt will be broken in at Lincoln Farm's property in West Auckland but could eventually end up in the care of Derek Balle and Owen Gillies, who train Galleons Sunset for Street and Blackburn.

Street was still active, as always, buying pacers, outlaying $160,000 in three minutes for two quality colts in the middle of the sale. He paid $105,000 for an Art Major colt from Seeled All Over, who is a close relation to Classic Cullen.

And the very next lot he paid $55,000 for a Christian Cullen son of Reality Check, a former top filly who was robbed of the chance to show her best because of injury.

"He had a bit of a club foot but is a beautiful strong horse and we liked him straight away," said Street.

Sales Day:

* Two $180,000 lots topped the yearling standardbred sales at Karaka yesterday.

* The top colt will head to Perth.

* The leading filly was bought by Graeme Rogerson.

* The average for the sale was up 5 per cent on last year.