News

Harry Lawton is "Ready To Run"

16th Oct 2005

Harry Lawton, Australasia’s most successful racehorse syndicator, is set to embark on a historic venture at the upcoming William Inglis & Sons Ready to Run Sales in Melbourne.

“Earlier in the year I took a conscious decision to prepare a team of horses for this sale. Before going to any of the yearling sales, I targeted the ‘Ready to Run’ sale as an ideal venue to showcase some of my yearling selections as 2-year-olds.”

So what has prompted Harry to experience being a consignor himself of ‘ready to run’ 2-year- olds?

“It’s simple really. I decided I wanted to diversify my business to include syndicating, selling horses outright and through the ready to run sales. The formula I apply to yearling selection gives my purchases every chance of becoming successful racehorses. The Ready to Run sales take that process one step further by allowing me to present some of my selections as 2-year-olds, fully broken in and ready to go into training. It adds an extra dimension and complements nicely my main business of syndicating yearlings.”

“Furthermore, the Inglis concept is a beauty. Held in the middle of the Melbourne Spring Carnival and with the breeze-up sessions being hosted at Moonee Valley, it works well for me to showcase nice horses in this way.”

Harry believes that Australia is the ideal racing environment for ready to run sales to flourish.

“Ready to Run sales are immensely successful in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly on the West Coast of the US. Buyers are always looking for athletic young horses that have the willingness to be racehorses right from the very start. This type of sale really showcases that sort of horse.”

And who could argue with Harry as his record truly speaks for itself. His legendary success over the past 3 decades derives from his knack to match quality with value. An impressive 72% winners-to-runners ratio is proof of his selection strategy.  Harry’s 11 individual Group 1 winners have had a total of 15 Group 1 successes between them including a Melbourne Cup, 2 Sydney Cups, Metropolitan, Epsom, 2 Canterbury Guineas, Rosehill Guineas, 2 Oaks and the AJC Derby — a race he has really made his own in recent times with Fairway, Carnegie Express and Braeloch either winning or running very close seconds. And the list continues to grow! Stormhill – winner of this year’s Grafton Cup in race record time – is being touted as a major Spring Cups contender.

So what will Harry be offering buyers at the William Inglis & Sons Ready to Run sale?

“I’ve got 6 horses entered in the sale, 3 colts and 3 fillies. They offer quality to meet every budget.”

First is a beautiful Thunder Gulch/Happy Heart filly (Lot 15). “The riders tell me she’s a terrific mover. From a young imported mare, her family is loaded with black-type winners. She’s a nice neat filly with breeding to suggest the Classic races might be her go.”

“The Viscount/Meritous filly (Lot 51) is a pure athlete. From a daughter of the all-conquering Danehill, the family is bursting with Golden Slipper winners. This filly literally floats across the turf. I guarantee that anyone who watches the filly work will be impressed.”

A real eye-catcher is the Gilded Time/Silver Atom colt (Lot 120). “He’s a stunning individualfrom a good city-winning mare by Marscay, Golden Slipper winner and one of our truly great broodmare sires. This is a fast local family brimming with soundness. And what a great job the sire is doing at the moment with triple Group 1 winner Barely A Moment flying the flag.”

Another must-see is the Fasliyev/Vain Token colt (Lot 142). “This colt takes your breath away with his size and sheer strength. Yet, he’s a lovely-natured colt who’s very agile and switched on to his work. He’s a real ‘trainer’s horse’. The Fasliyevs are really coming to the fore at the moment which is not surprising given the tremendous race record of their sire.”

The Carnegie/Dance Attendance colt (Lot 206) is sure to capture lots of attention. “I’m a great fan of Carnegie, sire of dual Group 1 winner and Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup prospect Perlin. From his first crop I bought Carnegie Express who won the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Group 1 Canterbury Guineas and just narrowly missed out on the Sydney Triple Crown. This colt is nothing short of spectacular. His action, temperament and conformation are first class. His dam Dance Attendance has been a great mare getting 6 winners, 2 of them at stakes level.”

Anyone looking for value need look no further than the Lujain/Decorative filly (Lot 208). “This filly was bought on type and temperament and is from a prolific winning family. She’s a real classy filly who will be in the affordable price range.”

The breeze-up sessions will be conducted at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Sunday 30th October 2005 with the sale at Inglis’ sales complex Oaklands Junction on Monday 31st October 2005.

Photographs and full pedigrees for each horse can be viewed on:

www.harrylawton.com.au

For further details on any of the Lawton horses mentioned above contact Harry on:

Office: 03 9879 1987

Mobile: 0412 120 370

Fax: 03 9879 3343

Email:   harry@harrylawton.com.au