GRNSW News
The inaugural Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Puppy Auction has not only demonstrated a growing interest of new people to get involved in affordable racing ownership, but many who have been missing from the sport have made a return with more than $1.27 million in sales on the day.
In what was an enormous vote of confidence in the sport, across the four hours of bidding, the average lot price was almost $9,600. All pups purchased in the auction are now eligible to race in a $200,000 Auction Race Series to be held late in 2025.
“The total pool was $1.277 million which was absolutely fantastic and we’re extremely happy about that result,” GRNSW’s Deputy Chief Executive Wayne Billett said.
“With auctions you just don't know when you put them on how successful they may or may not be, but with the support we've had from the industry this has been great.
“The feedback from all the vendors has been fantastic. The feedback over the years has been that they need a marketplace to be able to sell their pups. Today they have been able to sell their pups there's been really good money on offer, so overall the auction has been an investment in the industry and we're really happy about that.”
A large crowd attended the event at Richmond Race Club on Sunday, again according to Billett a great sign for the greyhound racing industry.
“It's just generated that much interest and it shows the industry is really viable and vibrant which is very important,” he said. “Today was about the industry and the great people in it, so we're delighted for them more than anything.
“They have voted with their feet today in some way, shape or form and that’s a tremendous thing. It shows how important these events are for the industry and for people to be able to sell their pups.
“The She’s A Pearl pups were the sale toppers but there was also very good money for the French Martinis and Jackpot Josies and the Keeping pups. The depth of the catalogue is really important and today's depth was fantastic.”
The sale topper was as expected one of the four pups being offered out of Million Dollar Chase champion She’s A Pearl. By super sire Fernando Bale, the last of the four pups in the auction, lot 127, the only bitch offered, reached $60,000.
In total the four She’s A Pearl pups were collectively knocked down for $207,000 ($60,000, $52,000, $50,000 and $45,000). All four were bought back by premier trainer Andy Lord, although it’s understood he is in negotiations with one of the underbidders about one of the quartet.
“I thought the day was a great success,” said Lord. “I don't know how much money was generated, but in my head I thought it averaged about $10,000 a pup and that's enormous for participants particularly after all the things we've been through with COVID and that sort of stuff.
“To see some of the pups come here today that I know were advertised probably six weeks ago for $3,000 or $4,000 and they got $10,000 each for those pups, it just goes to show you how much of a great success it was.
“It's good to catch up with so many people that I haven't seen for a long time and I just thought, how good is the next one going to be?”
Lord said he was keen to take his She’s A Pearl pups back to Gunning, but had the price been right he would have let a blueblood go.
“Look I would have probably let one go. I was always sort of wanting to bring them home on my own. My daughter’s put a lot of work into them, and money wasn't really everything.
“But, if one had gone for a bit more, I probably would have let the pup go.”
Among the other top lots were two pups by Fernando Bale out of Group winner French Martini, which went for $24,000 and $23,000.
Group 1 winner jockey Tyler Schiller bought a bitch by Fernando Bale out of Sam Sultana’s multiple Group race finalist, and Group 2 Richmond Oaks winner, Yuko Girl, for $23,000.
Some of the other big lots were a dog by Droopy’s Sydney out of Caitlyn Keeping which went for $22,500, two dogs by Aston Dee Bee out of Elusive Wave went for $20,000 and $19,500, a bitch by Barcia Bale out of champion sprinter and Group 1 winner Good Odds Cash went for $20,000, as did a bitch by Bernardo out of Jackpot Josie.
