Everybody loves little American Dealer - but none more so than his last minute new owners

American Dealer’s thrilling debut win in the final Young Guns heat at Auckland tonight highlighted the incomparable benefits of Lincoln Farms’ special partnerships.

Looking on as the American Ideal colt waged a dogfight with red hot favourite It’s All About Faith in the home straight were five new owners who took shares in the colt only in the last two days.

There of them, Kevin and Annette Crosswell and Ian Kedzlie joined the partnership after their previous horse Hampton Banner was sold to Perth on Wednesday.

Bob Best at 87 says he’s really enjoying racing horses with Lincoln Farms.And when told this morning that his horse Double Or Nothing had been sold to the States, Auckland veteran Bob Best also took a small piece of American Dealer.

Northland’s Duncan Chisholm also joined the team at the last minute, his group riding high on the successes of Make Way in Australia and his half brother Man Of Action, whose dam Grace Way features in American Dealer’s pedigree.

They joined Southland’s Tim White who prepared the horse for the yearling sale last year and asked to keep a small share, Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton and trainer Ray Green, who has always loved the animal.

“He’s such a nice little horse,” said Green after the judge declared a nose margin in his favour in a 1:56.9 mile rate for the 1700 metres.

“Everybody loves him at the stable. He’s a quality colt in every way and a real tradesman, it’s like he’s been here before.

“And we’ve found out tonight that he’s a real little racehorse too - he lifts his game when the money is up. I think he’s the real deal.”

Winners are grinners … Trainer Ray Green, left, with fellow owner John Street.Green recalls how he was impressed with American Dealer when he first saw him as a yearling.

“He was a beautiful bodied horse and I’m sure Tim White will be doing cartwheels.

“We got him for virtually nothing. I don’t know why people don’t buy American Ideals. I’ve had such a good run with them and we bought three this year.”

Green also bought a Sweet Lou half brother to American Dealer at the Auckland sale earlier this month for $30,000 simply because he had qualified American Dealer the previous week and liked the way he went.

While No. 1 stable driver Zachary Butcher was also effusive of the colt’s ability after he drove him to win at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday, he opted to partner debut winner Mr Fantastic tonight, an unfortunate choice after Steven Reid’s horse galloped soon after the start, badly impeding It’s All About Faith.

Butcher’s dad David was in the cart tonight instead, specially chosen by Green because of his experience with young horses.

American Dealer is such a tradesman, trainer Ray Green says ‘it’s like he’s been here before.”And when Butcher extricated American Dealer from the trail to come around pacemaking stablemate Franco Nandor turning for home he didn’t bustle the youngster.

But American Dealer, incredibly, found another kick by himself when headed briefly by It’s All About Faith, rallying to get his nose back in front and reward his followers with a $22 win dividend.

It was an ironic result for Street as the runner-up’s part-owner Mark Dunford once worked for him at his Lincoln Rd Pak N Save supermarket, a fact Street mentioned in his victory speech in the hospitality room.

Street presented the winning trophy to Best, noting the 87-year-old had become a welcome fixture around Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe stable, often visiting his horses.

“I’ve always liked the look of American Dealer,” said Best. ‘He’s a tough little bugger.”

American Dealer will now tackle next week’s $100,000 Young Guns Final and he has a flying start in the Sires’ Stakes series too as tonight’s race was also a qualifying heat.