The first three winners - Lochan Ora, Letsavafling and Waipari Lad - all came from the sales, and the top price paid for any of them was $10,000.
Lochan Ora started off the advertisement for bargain buying at the New Zealand Bloodstock sales, kicking clear to win a 1600m maiden quite comfortably for owner and trainer Kelvin Tyler.
The Towkay gelding had a stint on the West Coast over the summer and handled the rain-affected tracks there well.
But Tyler was reasonably confident the 4yr-old would handle a Wingatui track which was dry, but still had some give in it.
‘‘He likes the cut in the track, definitely - that's why I had backed off him a bit,'' Tyler said.
‘‘His work has been first-class - he's been galloping up with Timy [Tyler], so I was pretty happy going in to the race. He's only a small horse - probably only about 15.2 hands, but he's got a big heart.''
Tyler paid $9000 for Lochan Ora at the 2013 festival sale.
Riccarton trainer Lance Robinson went $1000 more for Letsavafling as an early 2yr-old at the 2013 South Island sale.
The fact she was by Savabeel interested Robinson, although it looks like an excellent investment in hindsight considering the Waikato Stud stallion's exploits over the last two seasons.
The Savabeels ... were good horses then, but they went to another level after I bought her.''Robinson, who owns the mare with his wife, Christine, gave Letsavafling three starts over the winter, which produced a win at Riccarton in June followed by two placings.
Letsavafling warmed up for yesterday with a trial win at Motukarara a month ago.
‘‘Her trial was very smart. She's got a huge amount of ability,'' Robinson said.
‘‘I brought her here today mainly because I thought there would be a bit of cut in the track and thought it was a good race for her and good money.
But she will improve a lot from that.''
Michael Pitman paid $6500 for Waipari Lad as a yearling at last year's South Island sales, and the colt has already returned the investment for owners Ken and Bev Voyce The son of Wanted finished strongly down the outside, and was later followed in the winner's circle by stablemate Bruegel, who was erratic but brilliant to finish over the top of Batman in the rating 75 1200m.
