Does the price you pay really matter?

This article was featured in our latest edition of Harnesslink Insider. To make sure you don’t miss out on weekly Insider harness racing content from around the world, subscribe here: Harnesslink Insider

Yearling sale prices have continued to rise in Australia the past few years with record-breaking purchases and six-figure price tags becoming a norm.

However, what does that price tag mean?

Lets take a look at the inaugural Nutrein Equine race series that is taking place at Menangle on Saturday (Aug. 27) night.

With Group 1 finals worth $175,000 each for the two-year-old pacers, it is time owners are about to get some serious money back on their investments.

In the colts and geldings final the most expensive horse to go through the sale ring is the Captaintreacherous colt Captain Hammerhead who was purchased for $90,000.

He has won two of his three starts, yet the race favourite Petracca, also a Captaintreacherous colt, was a marginally cheaper purchase at $80,000.

Petracca’s stablemates First Responder and Major Celebrity are also well-fancied in the feature.

Both are by Art Major and sold for $60,000 and $40,000 respectively.

In the two-year-old fillies final, the highest-priced yearling of the 10-horse field was Lochinvar Xena who was hammered down for $115,000.

The daughter of Captaintreacherous has had five starts for a win and two placings, however, is not the favourite to win the Group 1.

That title sits with Huntsville filly Scheming who sold for $24,000.

The other fancied starter is Art Major filly Ludacrous who was purchased for $25,000.

Price tags seem a little more relevant in the $50,000 Group 1 Nutrein Equine Two-Year-Old Mixed Sex Trot Final.

The race favourite is the regally bred colt The Locomotive who is by Muscle Mass out of the former top racemare La Coocaracha.

He was the most expensive purchase of the eight-horse field, being sold for $60,000.

However the next horse in the line of betting is Venus Love who was passed in at the sale.

The third elect is Used To Me colt Stevie Gee that was purchased for $9,000.

So at the finish line, what price really matters?

For complete race fields, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink