War Party gets the sales started

After a sluggish start to the NZB Standardbred harness racing sales in Christchurch today the Bettor’s Delight–Democrat Party colt delivered a well-timed boost when Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan were the last bidders standing, and War Party was knocked down to the training partnership for $240,000.

“He was a lovely horse to match the price tag,” Katrina said of the Day One sales topper.

She said prior to today there was interest in the colt on the SBSR tour but there had been no private viewings.

“That’s pretty normal for us and it’s very rare for someone to look at our horses outside of that. He was busy yesterday though (potential buyers looking at him).”

Purdon and Phelan have a long established history with the Prices and this purchase begins another chapter.

Purdon trained Democrat Party to win the G2 Young Guns Delightful Lady Classic and the G1 Sires Stakes Fillies Championship Final.

“They’ve had a great affiliation with the ‘Party’ family.”

As a broodmare Democrat Party certainly has some good runs on the board having already left Republican Party, Debutante Party and Advance Party, all black type performers.

“She’s (Democrat Party) got a Bettor’s Delight colt at foot. Unfortunately she’s empty this year because she missed to Captaintreacherous. The only time she’s ever missed is to him. With Bettor’s Delight, you only have to order the semen and she’s in foal.”

The Prices will have to observe tomorrow’s sale to see if their colt remains in the top slot with some of the Sale’s heavy artillery going under the hammer on the second day.

The couple have a great record in these Sales. They prepared a Bettor’s Delight – Hartofdixie colt last year which was the Sales topper at $240,000 and the horse’s full-brother sold for $320,000 in 2021.

Price says the positive announcements by Entain and HRNZ will help young horses like War Party to get their purchase price back.

“The horses that have been sold this year have got those stakes guaranteed for the rest of their careers. Not many other crops have had that. Hopefully the buyers recognise that.”

Day One saw a 62% clearance rate with an average price of $48,000 and 75 of the 134 yearlings offered, sold.

The day was a good one for Todd and Fleur Anderson and their Taffy brand. Three of their yearlings sold for six figures – A Captaintreacherous – Delight In Me colt sold for $220,000, a Bettor’s Delight – Platinum colt was knocked down for $200,000 and their Captaintreacherous colt out of Dream On Me fetched $180,000.

Day Two gets underway at 11am tomorrow morning with some serious firepower going under the hammer, including a full-brother to multiple Group Onne winning mare Amazing Dream, a full-brother to Ultimate Sniper and Ultimate Machete, a Safedra colt by Bettor’s Delight, a Bettor’s Delight colt out of The Orange Agent, a half-brother by Captaintreacherous to Cold Chisel, a Captaintreacherous colt out of Spanish Armada and a full-brother to Don’t Stop Dreaming.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink