The Butterworths become vendors next week

The biggest buyers of harness racing bloodstock in the southern hemisphere are turning a new leaf in New Zealand next week when they consign a colt to the Australasian Classic yearling sale.

Everytime you looked up in the last few years Merv and Meg Butterworth had been buying yearlings at the sales or snapping up promising racehorses in New Zealand for their huge racing empire.

The Butterworths have enjoyed huge success in the last few seasons especially since they hooked up with the leading New Zealand training duo of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.

The Butterworths have just enjoyed their best night as owners on Saturday when Arden Rooney scooped the $400,000 Hunter Cup.

So next week when Lot 109 walks into the ring at Auckland the Butterworths will have come full circle.

Lot 109 is named Bettor Under Fire and just like his vendors, he is from a 100% Australian maternal family.

Bettor Under Fire is the first foal from the outstanding Courage Under Fire racemare in Queen Of Fire 1:57.1 ($176,809) who ran second in both the Australian Oaks and the Australasian Breeders Crown final for four year old mares.

Queen Of Fire is from Penultimate who has left six other winners including Majestic Emperor 1:58.1 ($186,378) and Major Mac 1:59.2 ($72,163) and the dam of the very promising Machtwister 1:55 ($57,578)

Penultimate is a half sister to six winners including Detroit Dan 1:56.8 ($118,639) Mister Motown 1:59.6 (72,163) and to Star Chaser who is the dam of four $100,000 winners including  the champion Australian pacer Safari 1:55.7 ($535,445) as well as Astronaut 1:57.1 ($141,129) Our Maid Marianne 1:57.9 ($110,338) and Major Frank 1:52 ($108,228).

Kiwi buyers have had a tendency to overlook Australian bred stock in the past but Mark Purdons successful raids on the Australian yearling sales and the performance last season of Alta Orlando 1:56.2 ($173 486) who is from a West Australian mare has certainly changed that perception on this side of the Tasman.

The hardest thing for Merv and Meg to get the hang of next week may well be the inclination to put their hands up when the bidding starts.

Old habits are hard to break.

Harnesslink Media