Next time you consider paying $500,000 for a yearling, or $100,000, consider yourself a mug.
The total purchase price of Sunline and King Keitel, who between them took home $100,000 on Saturday, was $3000.
Sunline cost nothing - she was leased with a moderate right of purchase clause - and King Keitel cost $3000 after being foaled from a mare saved from the knacker's yard while carrying Saturday's Counties Cup winner.
And don't forget the world's richest thoroughbred yearling purchase, Snaffy Dancer, could not get out of a walk.
* * *
Ian Adams looked trimmer receiving congratulations after Vyner's Lane's big $30,000 Lindauer Bowl win on Saturday and there was good reason.
The Taranaki trainer says he is struggling to attract new owners in his area and recently put together an extensive lawnmowing business to pay the bills.
"I'm down to four horses and it's been pretty tough."
Vyner's Lane is one of the most underrated horses in the business. Although he has won on all surfaces, when there is slight give in the track he can measure up to just about anything.
The shower just before Sunline raced made the going perfect for him.
Adams is aiming Vyner's Lane at the $250,000 McDonogh Stakes at Ellerslie on January 1, a target for the minor placegetters Vain Ana and Travellin' Man.
Vain Ana's run was excellent, Travellin' Man's outstanding.
Trainer Tony Cole said he came within minutes of scratching Travellin' Man because of the rain.
"He was hopeless in the footing," said rider Leith Innes.
"It was a fabulous run in the circumstances."
Travellin' Man ran on strongly in the closing stages.
* * *
A stakes race will be on the plan for yesterday's impressive Te Rapa winner Regency.
The talented Takanini mare looked up to that class when she swept past Greenstone Charm and Spottswoode in the closing stages to win easily.
"That was a pretty good field and she's done the job well," said co-trainer Stephen McKee.
"We'll look for a stakes race for her soon."
Spottswoode was having her first start since April and looked likely to win when she eclipsed the leader on the home bend and drove clear, but her 58kg topweight and lack of racing told.
* * *
If the Jillings-Yuill stable had been worried Centennial's temperament was going to get in the way in Saturday's $25,000 Challenge Stakes, they forgot to tell the flying filly.
Centennial's romp by nearly two lengths belied Colin Jillings' claim the stable had not been able to put too much pressure on the Centaine filly because she had become wound up in training.
"She's been getting upset and we've had to be careful," said Jillings of the two-from-two filly.
Rider Lance O'Sullivan had a few problems with Centennial lugging out in the home straight and confirmed the filly had been a bit temperamental behind the barriers.
O'Sullivan was weighing out for the next race when he had a message for the Press.
"That was Centaine's 50th individual winner - I've just had a phone call."
O'Sullivan's sister Lisa is married to Mark Chittick of Waikato Stud which stands Centaine.
"I'll be in trouble if I don't pass that on."
The $500,000 Mercedes Super Bonus Classique on February 3 is an obvious target for Centennial.
* * *
Jim Gibbs paid Michael Walker a compliment under duress on Saturday.
Gibbs walked out of the judicial room after his horse Oregon Power (4th) had been relegated behind sixth-placed Kaapeon, Walker's mount, in the $100,000 Eagle Counties Cup and said: "That Michael Walker isn't at the top for nothing, he's good in that room."
It was a big rap - Gibbs is no slug himself at giving evidence
Walker's teenage fresh face has always belied the extent of how much he knows of what is going on in a race.
* * *
South Australian Thoroughbred Racing Authority's racing manager Ian Hart quickly pounced on Donna Logan after Vain Ana's eye-catching second to Vyner's Lane in the Lindauer Bowl.
Hart was keen to convince Logan the $A200,000 Swettenham Stakes at Morphettville in early February would be an ideal next target for Vain Ana after the $250,000 McDonogh Stakes at Ellerslie on January 1.
"The timing is perfect," said Hart, "two weeks after our race there is the Orr Stakes in Melbourne."
Hart visited New Plymouth race on Thursday, Counties on Saturday and Te Rapa yesterday to drum up business for the February feature races in Adelaide and for the state's main carnival in April and May.
May features are the $A200,000 Schweppes Australian Oaks, $A250,000 Malaysian Airlines South Australian Derby, $A200,000 Vinery Australia Oaks and $A300,000 Smoke-free Adelaide Cup.
Racing: Purchase price no indicator of future success
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.