Former Australian Test and NSW State Of Origin rugby league star Terry Hill purchased Group 1 winner Fast Times at the 2015 Richmond Riches Puppy Auction and the ex-Manly Sea Eagles centre will be back again this year on 26 November - this time as a seller.
Fast Times, a son of Clockwise, winner of the 2013 Group 3 Magic Maiden Classic, was sold at four months old and under Brisbane trainer Tony Brett's care has won the Group 1 Brisbane Cup and smashed the Lismore 420m track record.
“I have acquired a six month old litter by Dyna Double One from Clockwise and will be selling three pups at the Richmond auction,” Hill said.
“Clockwise's owner John Carruthers reckons they are more impressive pups than her previous litter, sired by Barcia Bale, which included Fast Times, winner of 13 from 22 races.
“They have been reared on the best by Charmaine Roberts out at Dubbo and they will definitely be sold.”
The Richmond Riches Puppy Auction is recognised as the biggest and most successful of its type in Australia, as apart from Fast Times, greyhounds like Group 1 star Mister Twister, winner of 19 from 45 races, and Kong, who has been successful in 15 from 31 starts, were purchased at previous sales.
Mister Twister (pictured), who won this year's Richmond Riches Classic, was purchased at the Richmond auction for $21,000, while Kong fetched $15,000 there as a Youngster.
Richmond Race Club General Manager Brad Adam said puppies sold at the November 26 auction will be eligible to contest the Ladbrokes Richmond Riches Classic in May 2019.
“There are 97 puppies entered for the auction, beginning at 10am, and when the race is staged runners will be competing for a guaranteed purse of $50,000, with $40,000 to the winner,'' Adam said.
Wagga breeders Tia and Ian Robertson are offering a brindle dog and a fawn dog by the great Fernando Bale from Dalta Bale, dam of their Adelaide Cup winner Aqua Cheetah.
Trained by Seona Thompson in Victoria, Aqua Cheetah has won 25 races and earned more than $302,000 in stakes.
“The pups we have submitted for the sale were whelped in February and the fawn dog is a dead ringer for Aqua Cheetah,” Ian Robertson said.
Other outstanding racing females with pups being sold at Richmond are Clay Model, Ready To Riot and Avondale Porche, Punch One Out and Sizzling Osti.
Clay Model's stock have been sweeping all before them and include Fast Archer, winner of 21 from 69 starts, Champion Model (10 from 19), Currency Model (seven of 19), Corrupt Millions (seven of 24), Young Thug (four from 13 races) and 2013 Richmond Oaks winner Calm Model.
“I have just tallied up the performances by her offspring and she has produced over 250 winners who have earned $600,000 prizemoney,” Sydney businessman Clay Mullens, owner of Clay Model, said.
Ready To Riot's offspring comprise Gravel Rash Riot, winner of seven from 16 starts, Black Sky Riot, who has won seven of 17 and Here's DAVE, a winner of five of his nine races.
Avondale Porche scored 14 wins from 23 races, among them the 2015 Cranbourne Cup.
Punch One Out, who was trained by Jason Mackay, was successful in 23 appearances, establishing a Wentworth Park 520m record of 29.27 in winning a semi-final of the 2013 Golden Easter Egg.
She was a finalist in the 2013 Top Gun, Sandown Shootout, Golden Easter Egg and in the 2014 Paws Of Thunder.
Sizzling Osti is a proven producer and her most recent litter to race, sired by Collision, comprise Maniline Osti, Got A Motor, Left Pocket and Osti Influence, who have alReady won 36 races between them.
While many top class race dogs have been sold for big money as puppies, there are still bargains to be had.
Flying Mikayla, who was sold at an auction at Dapto, cost owner Lee Burke just $500 and has so far won 11 races and $35,000 prizemoney.