Record Sale of Auckland Reactor

Everyone in the harness racing community of New Zealand would agree that Auckland Reactor is probably the best three year old pacer that the country has seen in while. Sired by the legendary Mach Three, breeders and owners, Tony and Anne Parker have just signed a deal with a North American group, to sell Auckland Reactor for an unbelievable $4 million. It is said that this is the highest selling price to date, in the harness racing industry.

Auckland Reactor burst onto the harness racing scene with eleven spectacular wins, off eleven starts. The unbeaten colt raked in his tenth win on the 4th of April at the New Zealand Derby, while breaking the national record in the three year old division. He bettered the time of three minutes and eleven seconds, which was held by Holmes DG since 1998, by 1.7 seconds. Trainer and co driver, Mark Purdon, commented that Auckland Reactor is a horse that keeps taking his racing to a new level, and always impresses. His eleventh win came at the $50 000 Southern Supremacy Stakes which was held in Invercargill on 26 April and once again took the wind out of everyone’s sails, by covering the last eight hundred meters of the race, in a mere fifty four seconds.

It was these rare qualities that caught the attention of the group, and led to the sale, which was negotiated by John Curtin. The deal has included that Curtain will manage the remainder of Auckland Reactor’s racing career in Australasia, under the banner of Auckland Reactor Limited, while Mark Purdon and Grant Payne will continue as trainers. After Auckland Reactor has completed his racing career, he will be put to stud in the United States of America and in New Zealand.

No immediate plans have been made in regard to the next racing events for this season, as it is felt that Auckland Reactor deserves a good rest and his trainers and new owners are looking forward to seeing him perform as a four year old. Even though the Parkers have severed financial ties with their magnificent horse, they will still be keeping a close eye on his progress, cheering for him in every race and hoping that his three daughters will have the same spark on the track as their sire. But as for Auckland Reactor, it is felt that the best is yet to come.