Bidders went into the hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure the stock of champion sire Bettor's Delight on the first day of the national standardbred yearling sales in Auckland yesterday.
The star sire produced three of the sale's four $100,000-plus lots.
Prominent All Stars stable owner Jean Feiss, of Victoria, dug far deeper into her pockets than any other bidder to secure yesterday's top lot.
She paid $230,000 for a Bettor's Delight colt from Linda Grace.
The yearling is a full brother to the 14-win All Stars pacing mare Linda Lovegrace.
A Bettor's Delight colt, whose third dam is the famous producing mare Black Watch, was the second-highest-priced yearling to be sold at $140,000.
The colt also looks destined to head to the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen All Stars barn as he was purchased by their longtime client, Neil Pilcher, of Christchurch.
The third Bettor's Delight colt to fetch six figures yesterday was a a full brother to leading mare Partyon which went to Lincoln Farms, of Pukekohe, for $130,000.
Lincoln Farms helped give rookie sire Sweet Lou a big boost in his first year at the yearling sales.
It purchased a colt from Love A Gamble for $100,000.
The yearling is a half-brother to Let It Ride, who finished second to Jilliby Kung Fu in the group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle on Saturday night.
Of 163 yearlings offered at yesterday's sale, 120 sold at a clearance rate of 74%.
Those 120 horses averaged a price tag of $33,850.
Southern buyers were not particularly active at the Auckland sale, with just five winning bids.
Dunedin's Steve and Christine Thompson, of Thompson Bloodstock, paid $40,000 for a Somebeachsomewhere colt who is a half-brother to Western Australian performer Mitch Maguire.
The Thompsons also purchased an Art Major filly from High Society Gal for $30,000.
Perrin Smith, of Invercargill, paid $40,000 for a Muscle Hill colt from the well performed Pat trotting family that has its roots in Central Otago.
Smith also purchased an American Ideal colt from Precious Mach for $14,000.
The only other yearling that will head south is a Bettor's Delight half-brother to the smart Beach Bunny purchased by Makarewa trainer Craig Ferguson for $10,000.
The final two days of the national standardbred yearling sales start in Christchurch today. Twenty-three horses from Otago will be offered over the two days and 27 yearlings from Southland will also go under the hammer.
Top five lots.-
Woodlands Stud, Bettor's Delight-Linda Grace colt, $230,000 J Feiss, Victoria; Breckon Farms Ltd; Bettor's Delight-Sossusvlei colt, $140,000 N Pilcher, Christchurch, Woodlands Stud; Bettor's Delight-Beach Parade colt, $130,000 Lincoln Farm, Auckland, Jordash Breeding Trust Victoria; Sweet Lou-Love A Gamble colt; $100,000 Lincoln Farm, Auckland; Dancingonmoonlight Ltd, Bettor's Delight-Timeless Perfection filly, $90,000 M Jones, Christchurch.
Suspensions.-
Jockeys
C Lammas, careless riding, suspended February 4-March 11; K Gundowry, careless riding, suspended February 16-March 1; S McKay, careless riding, suspended February 11-23; T Thornton, excessive use of whip, suspended February 12-17; D Bradley, careless riding, suspended February 11-22; T Johnson, careless riding, suspended February 7-14; L Innes, careless riding, suspended January 28-February 16; D Johnson, careless riding: suspended January 29-February 14; J Waddell, careless riding, suspended January 31-February 16.
Drivers
R Cameron, excessive whip use, suspended February 7-23; S O'Reilly, careless driving, suspended February 7-17; J Best, careless driving, suspended February 5-15; J Ford, failed to take all reasonable measures, suspended February 7-June 6; R Paynter, failed to take all reasonable measures, February 9-June 8; S Quill, excessive use of whip, suspended February 15-23.
