Caption: A $9000 purchase … Claude Dacey with the Zambora Brockie-Jeannie Dreamer pup that  topped last month\’s Ipswich Puppy Auction. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)

By MIKE HILL

GARY Mackay was a happy man after securing the top-priced pup at last month\’s annual Ipswich Puppy Auction.

Mackay, an owner-trainer based at Luscombe, south of Beenleigh, paid $9000 for a \’striking\’ fawn dog by in-demand sire Zambora Brockie from the highly credentialled bitch Jeannie Dreaming.

Lot 4, offered by owner-breeders Norma and Claude Dacey, was passed in at $7500 but Mackay as the last bidder was allowed to continue negotiations, finally securing the pup for an additional  $1500.

\”He was the only pup I wanted,\” Mackay said.

\”I thought he was the standout pup of the auction, and I think I got him cheap.

\”I would have gone higher. I thought he was at least a $12,000 pup.\”

Mackay said it was the youngster\’s breeding that really attracted him.

\”Jeannie Dreaming is going to be a sensational broodbitch. Her first litter are all winners,\” he said.

\”And he was one of the oldest pups (12 months) in the auction.

\”We\’ll only have to wait six months to see what we\’ve got.

\”He\’s a striking young dog with a sprinter\’s build.\”

Mackay, who was president of the Beenleigh club for 13 years before its closure in 2003, said he always had a dog in the kennel.

At present he has three in work, including the promising young sprinter Fernando Grand (Fernando Bale-Precious Sal) – a litter brother to Andrew Monaghan\’s very smart youngster Trapped.

Fernando Grand has won two of his six starts and been placed twice and Mackay hopes, with his new addition, he\’ll have another outstanding youngster this time next year.

Other high-priced pups at the auction included a quartet of litter mates (Out Of Range-Hazy Jane) offered by Jane Crawford that sold for $7100 (Lot 37), $6700 (Lot 31), $6200 (Lot 19) and $6200 (Lot 25).

A fawn bitch (Lot 1, Barcia Bale-Ricolina Girl) offered by Brent Kline fetched $5750, while a black dog (Lot 14, Pindari Express-Polly\’s Maid) and a light fawn dog (Lot 17, Aston Dee Bee-Bundoran) both sold for $5000.

Ipswich officials said the new-look auction had been well patronised with 26 lots selling for a total of $110,650.

Originally 42 lots were to be offered but there were seven withdrawals and nine lots failed to reach their reserve.

The 26 pups sold at auction as well as 66 pups processed through the \’breeder buy in\’ category now qualify for the rich 2023 Auction Series races over 520m and 431m.

Newly elected club president Merv Page admitted there had been a few teething problems with the auction\’s new format introduced this year.

\”The committee will be looking into all aspects of the concept and if anything needs ironing out we\’ll make the necessary changes,\” he said.

* A full list of auction prices are on the Ipswich club\’s website.