Racing: Pay Me Christian and pay again

Pay Me Christian's owners expect the horse to more than earn his price in winnings and stud fees. Picture / Simon Baker

Paul Kerr wasn't stunned when his superstar Pay Me Christian became pacing's million-dollar pin-up boy yesterday - he believes he is worth more than that.

Kerr trains the three-year-old colt who cruised into nearly uncharted territory for a New Zealand standardbred after a sale that values him at over $1 million after just eight starts.

Canterbury stud farm Nevele R has bought a half share in the colt. Although the exact price will not be disclosed, the Herald understands it was more than $500,000, making him worth more than $1 million.

That sort of money has rarely been offered for a New Zealand pacer, with only freaks such as Roydon Glen, Courage Under Fire and Pay Me Christian's sire, Christian Cullen, having attracted similar offers as racehorses, all of which were turned down.

Kerr says the huge investment is justified.

"He is worth more than that. It is still a great deal for everybody involved," said Kerr. "He is a great horse, and he can win $1 million on the track before his stud career even starts.

"This is the way of the future for New Zealand harness racing. Our horses are up with the best in the world, and they are worth big money."

Kerr says the sale doesn't put any extra pressure on him ahead of Friday night's $125,000 Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park, in which Pay Me Christian will start a hot favourite.

Pay Me Christian has won six of his eight starts and finished second in another, with inexperience costing him in the other.

He bolted away with the $150,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington last month and will head to Melbourne next month to take on Australia's best in the Victoria Derby.

Nevele R Stud will race him in partnership with the six-person syndicate who have retained the other half share.

"At this stage he will race at three and four then we will all sit down and work out whether his future lies on the track or at stud," said Kerr.

Nevele R boss Bob McArdle echoed Kerr's comments that they may have got the horse cheap.

"He could end up being worth a fortune," McArdle said.

"He is the most exciting young horse in this part of the world."

$1 million baby

* Who: Three-year-old pacer Pay Me Christian.

* What: Valued at over $1 million by a sale finalised yesterday.

* Where: Makes his Auckland debut in the Derby on Friday night.