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She was almost sold a few months ago and now she’s staying put.

Top filly Stylish Memphis was to be well-settled in Perth by now after a sweet deal was agreed to by Western Australian connections, only to fall at a minor vet issue at the eleventh-hour.

Owner Wayne Higgs had constructed a deal to sell the filly but would retain the breeding rights at a later date, a good deal for all but ultimately one which did not proceed.

Fast forward six months and Stylish Memphis, a full-sister to wonderful race filly and mare Delightful Memphis, successful in three countries, is now regarded too good to let go.

If she retired today there’s great value in her progeny. She is now Group 1 placed after a stunning run for second to Amazing Dream in the Peter Breckon Memorial Caduceus Club Stakes at Alexandra Park last Saturday night.

Her potential to earn on the track, even through her three-year-old season is enormous, and as a four-and-even five-year-old mare there are opportunities on both sides of the Tasman.

So, while the fruits of her racing labour are obvious, the rapidly declining breeding numbers in this country quite simply increases the value of the top-shelf race fillies come broodmares.

Like the majority of our top fillies these days Stylish Memphis is by the great Bettor’s Delight, and that in itself is an obvious carrot for the discerning buyer.

As long as we can find the right outcross, a new super-sire to match with a plethora of Bettor’s mares, then yearling values will skyrocket in the next five years.

That could be Sweet Lou, or Captaintreacherous, maybe another.

And owner-breeders like Wayne Higgs, a man who has traded in more horses than most in the last two decades, knows this.

As breeding numbers drop, and they have again rather too significantly this spring, horse values will rise as a result.

We’ll return to those crazy sharemarket days at the national sales – it seems we’re not far off more regular $200,000 yearling prices now – big money for untried stock.

So, while numbers decrease quality and demand will always remain. And the likes of Stylish Memphis, and her big sister Delightful Memphis, who will return to New Zealand after her North American stint to breed, are to become some of the most valuable commodities in harness racing alongside all these wonderfully-performed, and bred, mares.

Higgs has had to make a few choices along the way. And not always the easy ones with the good money floating around.

But this week he told co-trainers Mark Jones and Brendon Hill she is not for sale amid another rush from big players across the Tasman to secure her post that brilliant Auckland run.

It’s a brave move, but a wise one.

Mark will take a mid-season break with impressive Addington winner Willison and maiden graduate Deny Everything, respective winners for the Elite team on Friday and Saturday.

Willison, who raced without luck at the Cup meeting, put his best foot forward on Friday with Mark in the sulky, though he’s ready for a break now.

“I’d not been as happy with him, and even in the week leading up to Friday night until he worked nice on Wednesday,” said Mark.

“He can have as nice break over Christmas now and back for something bigger later – he’s good enough to run in a Derby.”

And off for a spell too is Deny Everything (4g A Rocknroll Dance – Lecerne Lil).

“He’d been a bit crook since going a poor one Cup day and has probably done a nice job to bounce back, win his maiden, and can now head out. He’ll be a better horse next time around.”

Deny Everything led throughout to win on the grass track at Oamaru, holding on by a head to defeat a very late lunge from Mongolian Conqueror.

Stylish Memphis, the third of the Elite Racing stable to win this weekend, is on a float to Auckland on Tuesday where she will meet up with paddock-mate Lulu Le Mans at Jeremy Young’s property.

She qualified the $150,000 Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Final at Alex Park on December 31 with an end-to-end win in her Addington heat, cruising to victory in 1:57.4 rate for the 1980m mobile.

“She is still short of her very-best, but with a float trip up that’s an extra kilo or two that is needed for now,” said Mark.

Stylish Memphis will contest the $100,000 Peter Breckon Memorial on December 14 where a clash with Amazing Dream awaits.

DEXTER DUNN SALUTES AT BIG M WITH WHITTAKER

Former champion NZ driver Dexter Dunn warmed up for Sunday’s $2.8 million card at The Meadowlands, New Jersey, with a winning treble on an under-card there on Saturday, including success with former Overport Lodge pacer, Whittaker.

Dexter, who topped a staggering $US11 milliion mark in winning driver pursess for the year this week, was able to win from the eight barrier in a $12,500 with Whittaker, these days prepared by Paul Blumenfield.

Whttaker settled in midfield improved to challenge turning for home and ran clear by a length and three-quarters in 1:52.2 (fifths) for the mile.

He turned his form round from a week earlier when after going hard early from the outside 10 draw for Tim Tetrick, he tired in the stretch to finish eighth.

Saturday’s win was his sixth for the year, while he’s also been three times placed, in 30 starts, earning $64.759.

Whittaker The has taken a 1:50 mile best on the mile track at The Meadowlands.

After entering the Mark Jones stable, Whittaker was renamed by Queensland owner Greg Brodie after the former doyen of NSW racing and sports reporters, Bill Whittaker, as the horse was by the sire, Sportswriter.

He did a good job in his Australasian racing, winning four of 12 NZ starts, then won six in Australia, including the Group Three Paleface Adios at Menangle in 1:53.9.

His fastest winnng mile at Menangle was 1:52.9.

Whittaker’s best showing in Australia was his fourth to Jilliby Kung Fu, Let It Ride and Atomic Red, in the Group One $200,000 Chariots Of Fire, won in 1:48.8.

He’s now won 16 lifetime from 61 starts for $170,000 in stakes.

FORTY THIEVES ADDS TO GOOD JONES SALE RECORD

Forty Thieves, who led and won at Melton in a useful 1:54.4 rate (2240m) on Friday night, is another good winner to be sold early days out of the Mark Jones stable.

Bred by Hamish Scott, Dr Kim Lawson and Equine Investments Ltd, the Chistian Cullen-Harem Franco gelding only raced twice in NZ at three, with Jones letting him go after winning a $5413 maiden at Forbury in December 2015 in a 1:59.5 rate (2200m).

The half-brother to Franco Harrison (1:58.1) and Franco Harrington (1:51.2, US) led throughout Friday’s $20,000 Allied Express Pacre for driver James Herbertson, easily holding his rivals to win by five metres, cutting out his last 800m in 56.7s and 400m in 28.1s.

Forty Thieves, now seven and trained for his Austalian racing in Victoria by Joe Pace, is yet another ex-Overport Lodge pacer to have made his mark across the Tasman, having amassed just over $A90,000 from 12 wins and 13 placings in 54 career starts.

He has a best winning mile rate of 1:52.6, set when resuming this term over 1720m at Melton on September 14.

Smart filly will float to Auckland after Alabar heat at Addington

Mark and Benny have made the decision to sit and wait for next Friday’s $22,000 Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Heat at Addington and pass by the chance to fly Stylish Memphis to Auckland a few days earlier.

A plane will head to Auckland on Monday with a number of Alexandra Park hopefuls for the December carnival and she could have been on it in preference to running in the Auckland heat of the series on December 6.

But after the training partners discussed the programme it was felt a run close to home then nice gaps between her first and second Alex Park targets would suit ideally.

“Perhaps a few of the better ones are going to be in Auckland already or flying up Monday, too,” said Mark.

“So, the Addington heat looks a nice option. It did look like that Auckland heat would be a strong race whereas we can wait for Addington and head on up after with no fuss.

“I’m not bothered with the road trip. She won’t likely run again until the 14^th ($100,000 Peter Breckon Ladyship Stakes) and again on New Year’s Eve ($150,000 Alabar Sires Stakes Series Final), hopefully.”

 Mark drove the Bettor’s Delight full-sister to brilliant filly now mare Delightful Memphis at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday and was suitably impressed, clocking her home in around 55.00 the final 800m, and 26.5 the last 400m.

Oaxacan Dream, a Big Jim filly out of Verde Lima, a Bettor’s Delight daughter of Oaxaca Lass (19 wins, $456,134), trialled nicely to run third for Benny’s Swannanoa barn and he will pick out a nice race for her in the short term.

Benny sent stable junior Korbyn Newman south with the Ascot Park team today (Thursday) which includes Silent Major out of his barn, along with Burnham Boy (same race) and Maharajah (a Methven trial winner) out of Mark’s team, and Philadelphia Freedom who also trialled at Methven last weekend in preparation for tomorrow’s outing.