Racing: Elsu sold, but price kept under wraps

The guessing games are over about which prominent stud farm has bought pacing sensation Elsu.

Alabar New Zealand paid an undisclosed price for Elsu and he will stand for a service fee of $5000 (plus GST).

Trainer Geoff Small was excited that a leading New Zealand-based stud farm had purchased Elsu.

"All I can say is that the owners and I had worked for a long time period of time through the various legal issues about the sale of Elsu and he has been sold," said Small.

"Alabar New Zealand made the best and most exciting sale proposal."

Prominent Christchurch-based owner Ian Dobson made a hefty $1.5 million offer for Elsu early last week but that was declined.

Dobson is a prominent player in the breeding industry, as he owns champion stallion Christian Cullen.

Industry sources earlier this week tipped either Alabar Bloodstock or Dobson.

The 6-year-old son of Falcon Seelster was a sensation on the racetrack winning three Derbys as a 3-year-old and was retired last month after injuring himself.

Elsu won more than $2m in prize money, including a late-season magical sequence of winning form with victories in the Auckland and Hunter Cups and Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY