by Garrick Knight
Quality stock ship to USA
Fresh off competing in the Inter Dominion series, open class pacer The Devils Own has been sold and will do his future racing in North America.
He’s been scratched from his engagement at Alexandra Park on Saturday night and was due to leave Auckland today (Friday).
Also on the flight is promising pacer Flying Finn, a last start winner on night one of the Inter Dominion carnival.
Trainer Barry Purdon confirmed the deal, which will see ex-pat Australian Ross Croghan his new trainer.
Flying Finn joins Croghan’s other recent purchases, Otago mare Anne Bonney and the brilliant Queensland mare, Eleniark.
Others headed to America this weekend include Stratford pacer Claytons Bettor, who won three races in a row recently for Phil Fleming, and well-performed mare Somethingaboutmary, trained by Tony Herlihy.
Purdon confirmed he has also sold two other mid-grade pacers from his stable.
“Sole Ambition is going to Brisbane and Mohs Em Down to Sydney.
“None of them were actively for sale, but the right offers came along at the right time so we agreed to sell.”
Court for Canada
Canterbury trainer Paul Court has confirmed he is moving to Canada at the end of the season.
It’s not the first time Court, whose wife is Canadian, had moved to North America.
“This has not been an easy decision and has definitely not been taken lightly,” he said.
“But due to personal reasons, my family and I have decided to move.”
It is expected that Court’s current foreman, Simon McMullan, will take over the sizeable West Melton operation.
VC winding down
Southland’s longtime stallion, Washington VC, is in the twilight of his career and is serving a small book under very restricted terms this season.
“We’ve capped him at 25 mares, and they have to be local,” said Keith Norman, of Bryleigh Stud.
“His fertility is questionable and I don’t want to be responsible for owners paying to truck mares here when they might not get in foal.
“A few weeks ago, someone from Canterbury wanted to send two mares down and I declined.”
Norman also mention he is close to taking Themightysamson, a full brother by Washington VC to champion pacer, Themightyquinn, to the workouts.
“I took him in to Wyndham to the other day and he ran a mile-and-a-half in 3.26.”