By Mike Hill

\”I WAS always going to keep her,\” says Robert Jacobsen.

The Moorooka-based owner-breeder-trainer was referring to his 10-month-old fawn bitch pup – one of four lots that topped the sale at last month\’s Ipswich Puppy Auction.

The pup, by Aston Dee Bee from the well-bred Zipping Venus (Bombastic Shiraz-Or Catra), reached $9000 as did litter mates – a dog and a bitch by Ritzy Lenny from Jewel Action –  nominated by Gary Mitchell  and a Fernando Bale-Miss Gingin black bitch presented by David Bailey.

All four were buybacks in what officials called a highly successful auction.

A total of 107 pups were offered from a catalogue comprising 112 lots with the sale grossing $534,750 at an average of $4998.

This was well up on last year\’s figures of $463,200 gross for a $3129 average from 165 lots.

Ipswich operations manager Narelle Long said the club was \’happy\’ with the auction results.

\”Fourteen pups were sold and we had 93 buybacks,\” she said. \”It was a healthy market and the quality was very good.\”

Jacobsen offered three Aston Dee Bee-Zipping Venus pups at the auction but bought each one back when they failed to reach \’his price\’.

\”I was never going to sell the fawn bitch (Lot 110) but I would have considered the other two if the money had been higher.

\”She\’s identical to her mother in so many ways and down the track I want her as my brood bitch. They\’re beautiful pups, have a nice nature and look good when they run.

\”Aston Dee Bee is starting to throw some really good pups and Zipping Venus is a proven producer, including Group finalists and a Group winner from her first litter to Jagger Swagger.\”

Jacobsen said he had sold several pups from the litter for $6500 when they were only 14 weeks old.

\”So I wanted at least that if not more for the other two at the auction,\” he said. \”But they only reached $5000 and $6000.\”

He also put his hand in his pocket to purchase a Milldean Panther-Hazy Jane bitch offered by Jeff and Jane Crawford.

The black bitch was knocked down to Jacobsen for $6500.

\”I went a bit higher than I had planned. I got caught up in the moment,\” he said.

Jacobsen said he wanted the pup as a future brood bitch.

\”She\’s a nice leggy bitch, she\’s well bred and should mature into a good dam and if we can win a few along the way, all the better.

\”Jeff Crawford always has good pups and it\’s a proven mating.\”

The Crawfords offered seven lots – three pups from a Milldean Panther-Hazy Jane litter and four from a Zambora Brockie-Smashing Sally mating – selling all for almost $40,000.

Long-time club official Merv Page said it had been a good auction in many ways.

\”The total gross of the auction topped last year\’s figure with less pups and I can\’t remember an auction when the dogs looked better,\” he said.

\”They were all presented in great condition. It\’s a credit to the owners and breeders.

\”The whole day was well received and many were just happy that the auction had gone ahead.\”

Page said the Auction Series was still a good concept for people to get involved in the sport.

Pups from last month\’s auction will be eligible to race for more than $90,000 in a series of races in 2022, headed by the $40,000-to-the-winner Alan Price Memorial Ipswich Auction Series (520m).

A consolation event carrying $10,500 in prizemoney and a $21,000 series over 431m will also be featured.

Caption: Robert Jacobsen\’s son Dayle with one of the Ipswich Auction sale toppers – a 10-month-old  bitch by Aston Dee Bee from Zipping Venus. Dayle also has a share in the pup. Photos: Anita Watts – Just Greyhounds Photos.