By MIKE DILLON
It's payback time by the racing industry to Terry Jarvis in the $350,000 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie today.
A win for the one-time co-owner of Sky Television would be a wonderful thank you for Jarvis' massive investment in the New Zealand thoroughbred.
Between his plush The Oaks Stud at Cambridge, a 50-strong band of broodmares, 35 of which have international pedigrees and a band of racehorses, Jarvis is in for more than $12 million.
It is almost entirely a strict commercial venture, which could almost pay huge dividends at the Karaka sales in the next decade.
Almost is the operative word.
Buzz Lightyear is a swearword in the breeding industry - he's a gelding.
His use outside a racetrack is pulling a cart or carrying little children at Christmas.
But he is an important part of the fun side for Jarvis - watching his diagonal cream and crimson colours go round on raceday.
When he decided to launch into thoroughbreds, Jarvis displayed the same determination he used at the crease when, as a New Zealand test cricketer, he established a still-standing 387 record opening partnership with Glenn Turner in Guyana in 1972.
His racing band though is small.
Two years ago he bought only six yearlings at the sale then one from the same age crop after it had won a trial.
Remarkably, of those seven, four have ended up as acceptors for the Derby - Buzz Lightyear, the trials winner, Hill Of Grace, Manntavani and Vivaldi who unfortunately had to be scratched on Friday after suffering an attack of colic.
"One of the others broke a leg at Peter Hayes stable in Australia, another is Sequel who is in the Eight Carat Classic on Sunday and the other is Casino, who started favourite on debut at Counties on Wednesday," said Rick Williams, who manages The Oaks Stud.
"Everyone seems to think because Terry's colours are very prominent at the moment that he's got a large team of racehorses but, in fact, it's quite small."
"Terry hasn't paid a lot for some of the yearlings, either," says Williams.
"A couple of the well-bred fillies have been good money, but they are an investment to retire into the stud's broodmare band."
Buzz Lightyear was not an expensive purchase. He was bought as a yearling by his trainer Robert Priscott and re-sold after he'd won a trial.
Priscott is a great sport and has already taken his profit, but you wonder what might cross his mind of Buzz Lightyear crosses the finish line first.
The commercial approach by Jarvis has meant Buzz Lightyear has been on the market for sale right through a very impressive spring burst of form.
The only thing that has changed is the price after some of the wins.
Hill Of Grace is a coming headliner. She has yet to beat much, but has the potential to be anything.
It's a wonderful double play for Jarvis - a slow-run race will suit Buzz Lightyear perfectly and a scream along in front could see Hill Of Grace mowing them down late.
For one who has spent so much of his life in the public arena between cricket and Sky Television, he is an extremely private person.
If anything gets him to open up it will be the winning post of the Derby this afternoon.
Racing: Derby victory would be payback time
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