The family of the late Fr Dan Cummings agreed there could not have been a more fitting tribute to the doyen of southern standardbred breeding than when the yearling named after him sold for $240,000 in Christchurch yesterday.
The legacy Cummings left the New Zealand harness racing industry was on full show yesterday when bidders duelled to secure Tuapeka Dan on day one of the pacing section of the national standardbred sale in Christchurch.
Some may argue the colt’s stunning physique and blueblood pedigree meant his fate as the day’s sale-topper was sealed before selling began.
Others may suggest when the horse was offered on what would have been Cummings’ 76th birthday a little divine intervention helped the sale along.
What is certain is that the timing of the sale added to an emotional journey back to the sales for Cummings’ brother Peter and sister, Julie Davie.
“It is very, very special to do this for him,” Davie said.
Before his death in March of last year, Cummings knew he and his siblings had quality horses on their hands in the two Bettor’s Delight colts their Tuapeka Lodge would offer.
And so it proved.
“He saw these horses as our babies. He knew they were special, so it is so good that they are,” Davie said.
She kept to herself the idea of naming the colt after her brother until his battle with cancer was over.
“I nursed him in his last three weeks of his life and I didn’t tell him I was going to call this colt Tuapeka Dan. But it felt right.”
Leviathan owner Emilio Rosati would not be denied the chance of securing Tuapeka Dan and he succeeded when the colt was knocked down to agent Peter Larkin for $240,000.
Tuapeka Lodge also sold a Bettor’s Delight colt from Break Dance for $52,000 to Phil and Glenys Kennard.
- By Jonny Turner
