Australian trainer outlasts HK buyers to snare half-brother to top sprinter.
Richard Laming won the battle for one of the headline lots of this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, the half-brother to Hong Kong star sprinter Lucky Sweynesse.
The colt by Contributer out of the Red Clubs mare Madonna Mia was on Wednesday knocked down to Laming and John White Bloodstock for NZ$550,000.
Manfred Man, the trainer who has prepared Lucky Sweynesse to win 14 of 20 starts in Hong Kong, was underbidder, which did not shock Laming, who considered the final price tag good value.
"I did think we'd be up against someone like that and I thought they'd have a few more bullets to fire, so it's very good to secure him for that price," Laming said.
"He's a standout himself. He's a great individual, good walker, nice and strong.
"We'll take him home to Australia and if he wins a race or two I'm sure the Hong Kong buyers will come."
The Woburn Farm colt is the fourth foal from Madonna Mia who has had three to race for two winners.
Lucky Sweynesse – a $90,000 buy at the 2020 NZ Ready To Run Sale – has been the pick of them to date, last Sunday adding the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) to his feature wins in Hong Kong, which include three Group 1 victories.
