Streets gift Stroke Foundation $26,000 through auction of top yearling Argyle

An impromptu act of kindness by Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street saw $26,000 raised for the Stroke Foundation at Friday’s Champions’ Lunch in Auckland.

The Streets were among 220 guests at the annual charity event at Auckland’s Hilton Hotel when 20 items were put up for auction.

And when one of the lots, a derby day lunch at Ellerslie, fell off the list, John Street offered to fill the gap with a 20% share in Argyle, one of his young pacers in training at Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe.

But Argyle is not just any horse, at $210,000 he was the most expensive of the Streets’ buys at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka yearling sale in February.

A striking individual by champion stallion Bettor’s Delight, he is from the same family as Lincoln Farms’ previous fine winners in Tommy Lincoln, Lincoln Road and Lincoln’s Girl.

The offering drew spirited bidding, much of it from people sitting at the Streets’ table, including long time friend and former Sylvia Park Pak ’N’ Save owner Peter Jeffares.

“When we realised we were bidding against each other five of us got together as a syndicate and got him for $26,000,” Jeffares said.

The lucky new co-owners of the horse include Jeffares, former All Black Bernie McCahill, Pak ’N’ Save’s Glen Innes boss Rob Redwood, Harcourts Wellington’s Mike Ledger and Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton.

Jeffares praised the spontaneous offer by the Streets.

“I’ve know John for years and he’s always been very generous like that.”

Only in June, Street gave away a 20% share in Franco Nandor and a 10% share in Captain Nemo as prizes to Ryan Fox and Gareth Paddison, the first two golfers in the Wairakei Invitational tournament. Both horses have already won.

Jeffares estimated the auction’s takings at well over $100,000, the Auckland event in just its third year.

The brainchild of Ian Klinac, the Champions’ Lunch has been running for more than 20 years in Wellington.

Traditionally held before major rugby tests it features a scattering of former All Blacks on the tables and has raised more than $5 million for differing charities.

Jeffares, who has been a long time partner in Lincoln Farms’ horses, and raced the talented Vasari, has shares in 11 gallopers at present, easily the best of which is The Chosen One, who in his last two starts earned A$700,000, running third in the Caulfield Cup and fourth in the Melbourne Cup.

Jeffares says he’s has just been paid out his share so as well as Argyle there are likely to be more additions to his team come sale time.