The optimists expected it to start raining money at the Christchurch sales yesterday. They were wrong, it started pouring.
Vendors and buyers alike were left stunned by one of the strongest days of standardbred selling ever seen in New Zealand as the financial floodgates opened.
By the time the last of the 356 lots had gone through the ring, auctioneers Pyne Gould Guinness were shaking their heads over what had been achieved during the two-day sale.
After a cautious start on Monday, PGG officials thought the average price for the two days would struggle to make much more than $15,000. They would have been happy with that.
"The quiet start on Monday coupled with the extra 100 horses we are selling at this sale this year meant we had no real chance of getting close to last year's average of $17,800," said PGG spokesman Bruce Barlass.
He was right, they didn't get close to it.
They roared past it as consistently strong demand yesterday resulted in the sale ending with a record $18,020 average for a total turnover of $6.38 million.
To give you an indication of how big a jump that is, two years ago in Christchurch the sales average struggled to get over $10,000. And that was with fewer horses being sold than this year.
"To be honest we can't believe it. We knew we had some great lots but the interest today was incredible.
"The bidding was competitive and you could really tell that people were there to take care of business.
"A few years ago we used to judge good lots by how many we sold for more than $10,000.
"In the last two days we have sold 17 lots for $50,000 or more."
Making the record average even more impressive was the fact that there were no huge purchases yesterday to dramatically inflate it.
Not that there was anything wrong with the $170,000 paid for a sister to Courage Under Fire.
The upstanding filly, who is already bigger than her superstar brother, was purchased by United States owners Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover, who own Tupelo Rose and Ouch as well as leading stallion Presidential Ball.
She wasn't the only $100,000-plus baby yesterday though as NSWHRC boss Tony McGrath paid $110,000 for an In The Pocket three-quarter sister to Courage Under Fire.
Auckland supermarket owner John Street wasn't left out of the action either, outlaying $102,000 for the surprise lot of the sale, a Falcon Seelster colt out of Classic Blue Jeans, a half-sister to Falcon's Blue Jean. The latter was a smart three-year-old last season and resumes at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
Street and his racing partner Graeme Blackburn race horses from the Ray Norton stable and they were very active over both days, also paying $62,000 for a brother to millionaire mare Under Cover Lover.
While the overseas interest was undoubtedly behind the big bucks changing hands yesterday, New Zealand's leading trainers were also busy.
Mark Purdon paid $55,000 for an In The Pocket half-brother to Stars And Stripes among several well-priced lots.
Older brother Barry made a late splash on Monday night, paying $50,000, again for an In The Pocket colt, a half-brother to talented three-year-old Areeba.
Other big purchasers included Bob Proberts, the Victorian businessman who bought Franco Heir earlier this season, Canterbury trainer Cran Dalgety and West Australian Nevan Botica, who owns star juvenile Mark McGuire.
While Monday's top lot was by US stallion Western Hanover, undoubtedly the star stallion of the sale was In The Pocket.
The sales move north to Karaka tomorrow where Barlass is confident the buying spree will continue.
"Usually the third day of our sales is the strongest and this year at Karaka we can expect some big sales up there," he said.
"It is a very strong catalogue with some wonderful lots. It is going to be a huge day."
The yearlings will be paraded at Karaka from 2.30 pm today.
Racing: Record average after sensational day of selling
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