Te Awamutu trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander went to $140,000 to secure an Ace High colt at Karaka on Thursday.
Catalogued as Lot 935, the Seaton Park colt is out of a half-sister to the champion Singapore galloper Better Than Ever.
“I thought he was an absolute ripper,” Simon Alexander said. “He is as good a colt as there is here in Book 2.
“There is a lot of Savabeel about him. I didn’t think we could afford him to be fair, but we’re really happy to get him.
“There are some clients, but he will be syndicated to go through and race.
“I think he will get over ground but I don’t think he will take forever. I think he is compact enough and mature enough that we will see him trial as a late two-year-old.
“We have sold an Ace High out of the trials, they are very good gallopers. He was called Angland and has gone to Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.
Alexander also revealed progressive stayer Sleeper had been sold to Australia.
“Katrina gets a bit mad at me when I sell them, so it’s good to get a nice one to put in the system to take through as a racehorse,” he said.
“We have got two or three to train, but today’s one was our first purchase. It is always hard on the nice ones with good X-rays and scope.
“New Zealand’s recent prize-money boosts give you a bit of confidence to move forward with these horses, especially like him — when they are three and four.”
Photo: Trish Dunell
Meanwhile, the Alexanders were far from disappointed in the close-up defeat by high-class mare La Crique in Saturday’s Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie.
“I think the track played a bit hard, I think you had to be in a certain spot, close to the rail and on the speed,” Alexander said. “Her run was courageous, we probably had her fit enough to run well, but not fit to win.
“We’re happy with her and will probably go to Otaki (Gr.1 Trackside Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m)).”
