Racing: Sponsor raises the ante

If Sam Kelt doesn't win the Contribution To Racing trophy at next year's racing awards they should lock up the voting panel in Mt Eden jail.

The Hawkes Bay banker had only just presented the 2005 Kelt Capital trophy to Xcellent's connections on Saturday when he announced the 2007 running would be for $2 million.

Yes, the board of Hawkes Bay Racing deserves a pat for supporting the lifting of the Kelt to $1 million for the first time last year, but you can bet the entire $1 million stake to a bottle top it would not have happened without Sam Kelt.

Kelt is a visionary and a most unusual one. He redefines the word different. If he does what he does for ego he hides it well.

Why have a $2 million Kelt Capital? Well, despite what the Doubting Thomases say, New Zealand racing is beginning an upward spiral. Turnovers have increased, and a greater number of top horses are suddenly being retained.

Look at Darci Brahma. The suggestion of racing a $1.1 million yearling in New Zealand 10 years ago would have been laughable.

And look what that did to Saturday's Golan Hawkes Bay Guineas. Had we seen Darci Brahma or Dr Green, but not both in the Guineas, we would have seen a runaway win and said what a good colt.

Instead we had a gladiatorial dust-up that few will forget - and with the prospect of a re-match.

That's what investment in New Zealand bloodstock can achieve.

Sam Kelt not only wants to see that develop into top-class weight-for-age racing, which he believes is the base of any truly worthwhile racing industry, he's looking for the $2 million to add to it by attracting European horses to New Zealand on their way to the Cox Plate. And the Australians.

He wants to tie the Kelt Capital to the Melbourne spring carnival.

Good on him. Lofty?

Perhaps. So was the prospect of a $1 million race in New Zealand five years ago.

Sam Kelt is not someone you bet against.