Street blows rivals out of the water at Karaka, his $200,000 colts part of a $600,000 spree

Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street set the New Zealand Bloodstock sale ring alight at Karaka today buying two $200,000 colts within half an hour.

On a day when high priced lots were few and far between Street was in defiant mood, first refusing to be outbid on a powerful Bettor’s Delight colt out of Royal Gem who cost $210,000 then 13 lots later bagging another stunning individual by the champion sire out of Splendid Deal for $200,000, both consigned by Woodlands Stud.

John Street … leading buyer with six lots for $597,500.For good measure Street also signed for a $110,000 Bettor’s Delight colt out of Holly Madison, two American Ideal colts for $25,000 and $22,500 and a Sweet Lou colt for $30,000.

Street left the sale ground with every one of the four colts his trainer Ray Green wanted, plus another two who missed the final shortlist, his $597,500 buying spree stamping him as the leading buyer with the Christchurch pacing sale still to come on Wednesday.

Street, who plans on buying a dozen all up, said after being underbidder on two or three yearlings in recent years who turned into serious racehorses like Mach Shard, Jesse Duke and Smooth Deal he was determined to win out today.

“I wasn’t going to get beaten this time,” said Street who kept the bids coming thick and fast.

One of the country’s best judges, South Auckland trainer Barry Purdon was underbidder on the $200,000 colt, a brother to Maxim whom Purdon trained for most of his career which netted 12 wins and $510,000.

Everyone was chasing Maxim’s brother who made $200,000, John Street overpowering top trainer Barry Purdon.The colt is from the prolific winning family of Woodlands’ Stud’s Charlie Roberts, Splendid Deal having produced, among others, Victoria Derby winner Maxim and NZ Oaks winner Splendour. Second dam Splendid Dreams, a half sister to Adore Me and Have Faith In Me was the 2015-16 Broodmare of the Year and left the champions Christen Me and Dream About Me.

Green said the colt “ticked all the boxes.”

“I liked everything about him and thought he would be the sale topper. I couldn’t fault him. He had a great pedigree, conformation, temperament and was a great walker.”

Family well known to Lincoln Farms

Green knew plenty about the other $210,000 colt as Lincoln Farms originally owned his dam Royal Gem, before deciding not to continue with its 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 Green remembers she was very fast she was always lame and never raced.

Today’s colt named Argyle is only her second live foal but Tania Tandias has left the tough racehorses Tommy Lincoln, Lincoln Road and Lincoln’s Girl who both excelled for Queensland trainer Al Barnes who was watching on from the gallery.

“I know the family pretty well,” said Green. “They can be a bit hot but they are triers.

“He’s a nice strong individual. I thought we’d get him for $100,000 so we paid overs,” said Green whose attempts to stop Street from keeping on bidding were in vain.

Street said he didn’t want to let Green down after the countless hours he’d put in culling down the catalogue.

“I like him to have nice horses to work with when he gets up in the mornings.”

Street said Green’s wife Debbie - “a good judge” - was also big on the two colts, scrawling simply BUY in capitals in her catalogue.

Green said while $200,000 was a lot to pay for a yearling “we haven’t made too many mistakes over the years.”

“The $22,500 one will probably turn out to be the best. That’s the beautiful thing about horse racing. The day that doesn’t happen, it’s game over.”

The American Ideal colt out of Vivacious Madonna was a spec buy because he was cheap.

“He was worth a punt. He’s a nice type and is from a good family.”

The colt’s second dam Vicario is a half sister to dual NZ Cup winner Il Vicolo and left nine winners including Stunin Cullen and Coburg, who produced Group I winner Veste.

Lot 31, an American Ideal colt out of six-race winner Simply Stunning, was on Green’s shortlist until the last cull and Green was also pleased to get him for $25,000.

Lot 21, by Sweet Lou from Maddison’s Delight, was another spec buy originally not on Green’s radar.

“But we qualified his half brother American Dealer last week and he went really well.”

“Quite a few people were interested in him and we did well to get him for $30,000.”

This Bettor’s Delight colt out of Holly Madison oozed class, said trainer Ray Green.Colt ‘oozed class’

Green was particularly rapt to snare lot 124, a Bettor’s Delight colt out of Holly Madison, for $110,000.

“He oozed class. I couldn’t fault him. He’s a great walker with beautiful conformation and he’s bred on the golden cross (being by Bettors out of a Christian Cullen mare).

The family has many big winners on the pedigree page including Jays Debut, J Walker, Rubens Barrichello, Sovereign Hill and Black Reef.

Green says the expensive buys won’t be hard to partner up - “a few people want to go in them already.”

The sale topping Captaintreacherous - Hi Ho Silver Lining colt bought by Sydney’s Emilio and Mary Rosati for $250,000 will also be educated at Lincoln Farms by Green, following in the footsteps of headlining colts Line Up and Perfect Stride, now making their mark in Australia.