Lucidium sold for $85,000

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 26

Lucidium sold for $85,000

PA Wellington The track performances of a three-year-old colt most New Zealand racegoers have not heard of yet prompted one of the biggest purchases at the National breeding stock sale yesterday when the young public company, Blandford Lodge of Matamata, went to $85,000 to secure the mare, Lucidium. David Jewell, of Blandford, explained the reason behind his decision to buy Lucidium was the career to date of Baptize, one of Australia’s most promising gallopers. Baptize, by Imposing, is out of Lucidium’s grand dam, Arnie, and is due to run in the William Reid Stakes in Melbourne on Monday. The trainer, Bob Hoystead, believes the colt, which has only had three starts to date, is one of Australia’s most exciting prospects, according to Jewell. Blandford, listed as a public company in June, now owns 54 mares including Arnie, also dam of Ashbah and Rafique. The stud privately purchased Arnie’s daughter, Prix Moss, which was listed in the breeding stock catalogue but with-

drawn, on the day Baptize won his first race. The move to buy into the family was prompted by Arnie’s age — she is 24 — and the fact the stud had no fillies to breed on from, should Baptize live up to his early promise. In addition to the stud’s official ties with the family, Blandford managing director, Brian Freyer, bought an Imposing half-brother to Lucidium on his own account at the National yearling sale for $125,000. Blandford, relatively dormant for a couple of years before listing on the stock exchange, is on a high at the moment, with an $111,500 average from the National sales and nine fillies preparing to go into work. Equal top-price of $85,000 was paid for Sharivari mare, Shannon, bought by an Aucklander, Ross Prangnell. Sharmon won six races, with 17 placings for total: stakes of $16,500, running second in the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie as a two-year-old. March Queen, a halfsister by Taipan II to March Legend, went to the Mapperley Partnership for $BO,OOO.