Best medicine for Ray - a carbon copy brother to champion Copy That for just $60,000

No doctor could have prescribed a better medicine for Ray Green than the news Lincoln Farms was able to buy Copy That’s full brother for just $60,000 at Karaka today.

Just moments after Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street bought the colt at New Zealand Bloodstock’s yearling auction, wife Debbie Green reported the “steal” to Green in his Middlemore Hospital ward.

Feeling a bit low after his colostomy reversal operation four days ago, Green immediately perked up at the news.

“Ray can’t believe we got him that cheap. We thought we’d have to pay more than $100,000 for him.

“Ray asked me what’s wrong with people, not wanting a full brother to a dual New Zealand Cup winner?

“Some people might not like buying full brothers to champions. But they don’t have to be as good as Copy That. If he’s only half as good, $60,000 is a steal.”

Debbie Green said, just like last year when she surprisingly snagged Copy That’s Downbytheseaside half brother Lincoln’s Copy for $30,000, the bidding hit a lull.

“I kept looking across at Steve Stockman waiting for him to get involved.”

Top reinsman Nathan Jack, who drove Copy That during his spring campaign in Victoria, congratulates John Street on one of his buys today, with Debbie Green looking on.Green said the resemblance between Copy That and today’s yearling was uncanny.

“He’s exactly the same as Copy That in colour, shape and temperament. He’s a bit quirky, just like Jip.”

Green recalled the day she bought Copy That as a weanling for $7000 and how, when she went to open the door to his box, he charged at her.

“I thought what have I bought here? We took him home and he jumped out of the paddock three times.”

When getting today’s yearling vetted, the colt became so agitated vet Lindsay Colwell wasn’t even able to take a heart reading.

“But we don’t mind that. When young horses are like that you’re better off taking things quietly and making friends.”

Ironically, Woodlands Stud studmaster Tony Grayling said you wouldn’t find a quieter broodmare than Lively Nights - “she’s so laid back we call her Not So Lively.”

Today’s buy takes to three the number of Lively Nights’ progeny that call Lincoln Farms their home.

Last year’s buy Lincoln’s Copy was pleasing in pacework before a virus hit the stable and he was eased in work.

And the mare’s Highview Tommy colt My Copy, a $3000 weanling buy, has done well winning three of his 15 starts and $32,000.

Wallet fairly closed

Street arrived at today’s sale determined to keep his wallet fairly closed, in contrast to previous years when he has been among the leading buyers at Karaka.

But, despite being reluctant to splurge on replenishing stock in a climate of uncertainty and questionable leadership in the industry, he took home three other cheaper yearlings, spending a total of $172,500.

John Street paid $57,500 for this beautifully balanced Vincent colt.Debbie Green was particularly pleased Street bagged lot 28, Highfields’ Vincent colt out of Cracka Dawn, for $57,500.

Green actually visited Highfields Bloodstock’s boxes to inspect another yearling but, when she didn’t like the colt, Tina Barlow showed her lot 28.

“She wasn’t sure if I’d like Vincent as a sire but the colt was beautifully balanced.”

Despite being a November foal, Barlow described “Cracka” as a very mature colt, with outstanding conformation.

The colt was on the hit list too of top trainer Mark Purdon who, not surprisingly was underbidder having trained both Vincent and family standout Isaiah, winner of 13 races, nine at two and three.

Also on the pedigree page are the good performers Cody Banks (13 wins), (King) Lebron (11 wins), (Sir) Bobby Lashley (15 wins) and Ariella (5 wins).

Green liked the shoulder on this Sweet Lou colt who cost John Street $40,000.Debbie Green was also enamoured with lot 109, Woodlands’ Sweet Lou colt out of Sea Of Gold, who cost $40,000.

“He was a fairly insignificant Sweet Lou but had the biggest shoulder of any yearling in the sale.

“Tony Herlihy was underbidder on him. He told me the last time he was underbidder to John the horse turned out to be King Of Swing (44 wins, A$3.4 million).”

Dam Sea Of Gold won only two races but she is a sister to Gold Ace (16 wins and $812,290), Dark Energy, who scored 21 wins in New Zealand and Australia before leaving for the States where he has won another 12 races, and (Lets) Strike The Gold, a tough pacer who won 15 races for Lincoln Farms here and in Australia.

Royal Gem’s Bettor’s Delight filly cost just $15,000 compared with the $210,000 Street paid for her brother Argyle in 2020.Not on short list

Lot 104 wasn’t on Street’s short list but he just had to put his hand up when there was no interest in the Bettor’s Delight filly and he snared her for just $15,000.

Street knows plenty about the filly’s breeding, having paid $210,000 for her brother Argyle at Karaka in 2020. The winner of five of his 16 starts, he is now trained for Lincoln Farms in Queensland by Mark Dux who has him nearly ready to go again.

Street is also well familiar with the filly’s dam Royal Gem, whom he originally owned before deciding not to continue with Lincoln Farms’ breeding programme and selling her to Woodlands.

Royal Gem was in utero when Street bought her mother Tania Tandias at a dispersal sale in Christchurch but while she was very fast she was repeatedly lame and never raced.

Tania Tandias left a string of tough racehorses for Lincoln Farms including Tommy Lincoln, winner of two recent races in Queensland, and a longshot placegetter on Saturday night, and earlier Lincoln Road and Lincoln’s Girl.

* The three-day Christchurch sale starts at 3pm on Monday with the section for trotters.

* Watch it on: Freeview channel 200, or streamed live at nzbstandradbred.co.nz and on NZB Standardbred’s Facebook page.