Viewpoint - David Ellis on the Ready to Run Sale

David Ellis writes:

Occasionally our industry tries to self-destruct and that always really upsets me.

Events affecting our Ready to Run Sale in November are a classic example of this stupidity.

I wholeheartedly support healthy competition but cannot abide any decision that puts our industry in jeopardy. I am of course referring to plans by an Australian company that is starting a Ready to Run sale for New Zealand horses here in New Zealand.

Let me explain why I am so upset with the New Zealanders who support this sale.

The Ready to Run sale held at Karaka by New Zealand Bloodstock is the one area that New Zealand leads the world in.  It is a highly successful and well regarded sale and provides a lot of people with both work and income.

When you have something that is the very best, why would you risk damaging it?  There is nothing that comes close to replicating quality and integrity of New Zealand Bloodstock's ready to Run Sale or its record of producing successful racehorses year after year.

The Karaka Ready to Run Sale was developed out of a combination of innovation and necessity - it created a much-needed opportunity for local horsemen and women to make a living and today a great many people's livelihoods in New Zealand depend of this sale.

To assist in the creation of something that threatens to undermine this sale - to me is tantamount to treason.  It is grossly disloyal to the local breeders, trainers, New Zealand Bloodstock and everyone who has invested hard work, time and money into the survival of our New Zealand industry.

It also sickens me that a once-top racing club I have always supported has stooped so low in getting in behind the Australian sales' company.

Shame on the Avondale Jockey Club for supporting this sale and for providing its venue.  Avondale - this industry has so staunchly supported you through your troubles and encouraged and helped you and you have treated it with absolute disregard and disdain. Your action is one of the most destructive, short-sighted and selfish acts I have seen for a long time in our New Zealand industry.

The New Zealand Ready to Run Sale is the best in the world because we have all supported it.  I can only conclude that the decision to go ahead with this other sale is a deliberate and vexatious attempt to undermine the New Zealand industry and to my mind, anyone supporting it, is striking a blow to their own industry.

To show my loyalty to the New Zealand sale I will support the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run sale exclusively this year.  I will NOT be buying from any New Zealand vendor who offers horses at the Australian sales' company sale.

This will be my way of saying to all New Zealanders -‘don't shoot yourself in the foot' - we have the best sale - don't put it at risk.

I am deeply committed to the health, well-being and the longevity of our New Zealand industry and I am happy to stand up and be counted!  I cannot tolerate anyone who seeks to undermine an industry whose success we all work so hard for.    

Note:- David Ellis has purchased about 120 horses at Karaka for over $20 million in the past three years and has been a regular buyer at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.  His most successful purchase at the Ready to Run Sale has been 2012 Singapore Champion Polytrack Horse of the Year Flying Fulton who he bought for $210,000 and who has won stakes of $1.3 million.

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