John Street with his $210,000 pacer Argyle.
Streets gift Stroke Foundation $26,000 through auction of top yearling Argyle
By Barry Lichter • 30 November 2020
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.
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No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
