Racing: Look, learn, listen - and bid

Ian MacDonald (right) and his son Lachlan. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Regular Aussie visitor Ian MacDonald brought his racing-mad 13-year-old son Lachlan to Karaka to teach him the three Ls - look, listen and learn.

He hadn't planned to also include in the curriculum the art of buying at the National Yearling Sales yesterday.

With his arm twisted by Lachlan's passionate pledge to chip in his pocket money, Mr MacDonald and bloodstock pal Robert Roulston, pictured with Lachlan, successfully bid $120,000 for a Faltaat filly out of Raise the Play on the opening day of the sales.

"Lachlan would nudge me when he wanted to bid and I'd nudge Robert," said the beaming 62-year-old Melbourne Racing Club committeeman. "That was one of the most exciting times in my life."

Mr MacDonald, who describes himself as a "serious hobbyist", says his son already runs rings round him in terms of his racing knowledge.

Lachlan ordered his own yearling catalogue from host New Zealand Bloodstock and combed every page for two weeks before arriving in Auckland.

While it will be the old man's name in the racebook - Lachlan is still five years away from legally being able to race a horse in Australia - Mr MacDonald says he'll leave the filly's immediate programme up to his son who originally picked the horse out.