This week on Garry’s Corner

Hi you four. Mary and I are having a change of pace, we are in Queenstown on our way to the eighth wonder of the world, Milford Sound.

The wander around Queenstown was a stark lesson on the effects of COVID-19. There are very few people here, it reminds you of one of those movies where the wind whips up the rubbish and dust.

Does it matter to us? Of course it does as we need prosperous people and as a country, we need active commerce. Governments can only print so much money, we all think we are better off, but really we just have more paper – no it’s not even paper now, just computerised book entries.

Fortunately the horse market reflects the money supply. In my years in the industry, increased credit is reflected in prices for our product. My sales pitch was ‘breed money,’ for all that it still requires a bit of luck, skill, and tenacity as it is not always straightforward. But that’s life.

As I sit here surrounded by these spectacular mountains, the first day of the Ready to Run Sale has been completed. Figures reflect my view expressed above apart from a dip in clearance rate. This is understandable, with no onsite action, the 4% drop would normally be secured with horses catching the eye of somebody around the rail. Mark has sold up to $640k. By the time you read this, the Sale will be completed. Me, I’ll be eating crayfish, catching blue cod, watching dolphins and avoiding the incessant but necessary TV reports on COVID.

We live in a great country. We are extraordinarily lucky to still be racing both here and Australia. Let’s abide by the rules or they will shut us down in an instant. 

The breeding barn is flat out. I reckon this is the first eight days Mary and I have had away from the stud for non-horse related activities in fifty years. It takes a long time to work out they can manage without you, but when your grandson is managing stallions and you’re not, go figure.

Cheers

G