A colt from the first crop of Gotta Go Cullen fetched top price of $100,000 on the first day of the premier yearling sale of standardbreds in Christchurch yesterday.
The colt out of Beauty Bee and first foal of the unraced mare, was bought by Ian Dobson, who stands Gotta Go Cullen, the winner of 24 races including the Auckland Cup, New Zealand Messenger, Sires' Stakes Final at two and New South Wales Derby.
Beauty Bee is a half-sister by Pacific Fella to prolific Australian winners, Sting Like A Bee and Hesa Buzzin and Hi Ho Silverheels, winner of $US1.1 million.
The colt was offered by NZ Bred Ltd, Weedons.
Trainer Cran Dalgety paid $86,000 for a colt by Mach Three from Hunter Franco, the dam of Franco Hemingway (New Zealand Yearling Sales Pace) and Franco Hendrix. The colt was offered by Spreydon Lodge Ltd.
J. Coyne, of Australia, paid $82,500 for a colt by Mach Three from the speedy Gail Devers.
Emilio and Mary Stride, of Sydney, paid $75,000 for a Christian Cullen-Brooklyn Dream colt offered by Finash Bloodstock, Lincoln.
Mary Rosati and Jayne Davies, of Melbourne, paid $75,000 for a Mach Three-Kate's First colt offered by Rosedale Farm, Ladbrooks.
"The average was down 6% but given the feeling going into the sales this is a very pleasing result," Rachel Deegan, a representative of auctioneers PGG Wrightson, said.
She said 33 lots (from a catalogue of 184) had been sold to Australia. Mark Congerton, a part-owner of Interdominion winner Im Themightyquinn, was a notable buyer.
Alta Christiano, who is unbeaten in two starts including the New Zealand Kindergarten Stakes, has five rivals in the first heat of the Sires' Stakes at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Tumundal has his first start since on Thursday since joining the Westwood Beach stable of Graeme Anderson and Amber Hoffman. Tumundal was a winner at Forbury Park in October, 2009 from 43 starts when trained by Graeme McLay. The Sundon gelding has not raced since January 2.
Tumundal and his stablemates, No Courage Russell and The Agent, won workouts at Forbury Park on Saturday.
Ellen Tormey, representing Victoria, won the Australasian Young Drivers Championship which ended in Perth on Friday night. Tormey (21) joins other female winners of the series, Kerryn Manning and Danielle Hill. Tormey drove at Echuca in her home state the next day, landing the Tiffany Memorial Pace, named for her friend who died of cancer last year. She drove Valiant Lustre, the former New Zealand pacer.
