Understandably Nathan emerged from the Christchurch sale all smiles after a good day’s business on Wednesday.
“We got virtually all we wanted and some of the prices surprised us. We had some priced well above what they bought and that is unusual at a sale like this when you can get very close with your pricing. So we think we have great material to work on and at reasonable money”
There was one disappointment. Braeden Whitelock made a huge effort to land the internationally – bredsale topper aware of her breeding potential apart from anyr track ability and rated by most as hard to buy.
“He was in up to $250,000.Been a nice one to handle that filly”
Nathan will be seeking to syndicate some of this week’s purchases but is waiting to sort out the oner “reserve list” later this week.
Lot 137 f Bettor’s Delight -No Matter Wat-A Rock n Roll Dance
$80,000 (named Wats Up)
The Purdon family go a long way back with this family and its results back up this buy. The first foal of No Matter Wat who won the NZ Oaks for the Purdon stable and her half-sister Wat Next is showing plenty of promise as a two year old this season winning her Harness Million target and nearly $100,000. Tricky Woman the 3rd dam and her offspring Bettor Trix and Bettor To B Bad chalked up good results.Tricky Woman and hr dam Super Smooth were both bred by Mark who is also listed as the breeder of the latter’s daughter Scuse Me (he says the credit belongs to Jim Dalgety) who left a string of high class winners for All Stars. This one is sure to be raced by the “Two Steves” (Byrne and Thompson) who headed syndicate who race Wat Next.
Lot 193 c Bettor’s Delight-The Orange Agent-American Ideal
$70,000. Unnamed
The 2nd foal of a brilliant filly who won four superior G1 races and proved a tough nut to crack for the All Stars fillies of the time (Supersonic Miss,Fight for Glory etc).She also accounted for stars like Smolda as an older mare.Trained by Mark’s astute cousin Brian Hughes she was never beaten in five appearances in Australia,bowing out in the G1 $A100,000 Queen of the Pacific at Melton in the hands of the “Puppet Master” Chris Alford.
“Took us a little by surprise. We had him priced a lot higher than that” Nathan noted.
It is likely that the name of Jim Gibbs will pop up among the ownership of this one and Mark may be keen to retain some as well.
Lot 253 c Captaintreacherous-Dream On Me-Bettor’s Delight
$50,000 Unnamed
Surely a snip at the price to get into a champion family by the top commercial stallion for 50g. It would take a page to list the top horses from this family and several were trained at Rolleston. Nathan confessed he thought it would go for much more. “He was one we were keen on but we didn’t think we would get him for that”
Lot 316 c Captaintreacherous -Millwood Maizie-Bettor’s Delight
$82,500 Claymore King
He wasn’t an afterthought,more of an opportunity.
“He is a really nice type, there wasn’t a lot going on and the budget had got through the day ok. So I had a go and we got him so it ended the day well”
No doubt Nathan would have noted Millwood Maizie who clocked 1.51.4 in Australia is a sister to Ohoka Punter the near champion but for injury who gave Nathan his first training/driving G1 win in the Blacks a Fake. You don’t forget things like that for a long time if ever.
Addenda
Lot 148: c Captaintreacherous-Perfect Bet-Bettor’s Delight
$100,000 Unnamed
This handsome guy was purchased by Phil and Glenys Kennard, long term Purdon patrons who have placed him with Nathan. The strike rate of the Kennard team purchases is well enough known and they had to fight off keen competition for this one.