KEY POINTS:
The economic downturn bit hard at the Ready to Run sales in Christchurch yesterday.
But sales bosses are not predicting it will impact quite as severely at the yearling sales in February.
Some vendors were left shocked when only 53 per cent of the 90 lots offered yesterday sold.
While there was still money for top lots, headed by a $195,000 Christian Cullen colt prepared by sales expert Michael House, the middle of the market was weak.
It is the first standardbred sale in New Zealand in a decade to produce genuinely disappointing results.
But Peter Lagan, of auctioneers PGG Wrightsons, says economic woes may be only part of the problem.
"There was no doubts it was a difficult sale," said Lagan. "But I think the economic climate is only part of the reason.
"I think some of the vendors had higher expectations than were realistic, which can happen at any sale.
"And we had a tough winter down here and some difficult conditions on the days these horses trialled.
"All of those things didn't help."
Lagan said while the sale could be a pointer to a downturn at the yearling sales in February, he expected them to be stronger.
"I think at the yearling sales you are buying a dream, whereas this sale is more about the business of racing, meaning we have a far smaller pool of buyers."
Of the few northern buyers, Barry Purdon was the busiest, paying $110,000 and $50,000 for two colts.
* TAB bookmakers are taking no chances with Changeover, even though he faces a 20m handicap in tomorrow night's Kumeu Founders Cup at Alexandra Park.
They have installed him a $1.60 favourite for the 2700m feature, ahead of his stablemate Awesome Armbro at $4.
Monkey King is relegated to third favourite tomorrow night at $5.50.
