4 Mar 2008
A former chairman of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Murray Acklin, paid $9000 for the collectors No. 1 print of the "Dynasty Of Kings - Sir Tristram" oil painting when it was auctioned at the New Zealand Racing Hall Of Fame evening in Auckland on Tuesday night.
"It is going to take pride and place on the wall at the new place I am building," said Acklin.
"It is an absolutely glorious piece of art work and the artist has captured four members of the most dominant sire line in Australasia," Acklin said.
Bidding on the limited edition print was very keen from the outset and Acklin had to head off strong competition before securing the work of renowned Australian equine artist Lyn Beaumont who was present at the Hall Of Fame function which was attended by about 450 people.
Proceeds from the print auction have been donated to the New Zealand Hall Of Fame for the future establishment of its inductee display presentations in the New Zealand Horse Racing Museum.
"Dynasty of Kings - Sir Tristram" is an oil painting by Australian equine artist Lyn Beaumont featuring the legendary sire Sir Tristram and his son Zabeel, grandson Octagonal and great-grandson Lonhro.
"There is so much in the story of these four horses in their achievements, heritage and history and the many lives that they have changed - what an amazing line," said Beaumont.
Having viewed both Octagonal and Lonhro in the flesh on the racetrack and Zabeel at stud, Lyn Beaumont worked off photos of Sir Tristram and consulted with Sir Patrick Hogan, owner of Cambridge Stud, who stood both Sir Tristram and currently stands Zabeel, to ensure her likeness of all four horses was realistic.
It was appropriate that the painting be launched at the Hall Of Fame function where Cambridge Stud's champion sire Sir Tristram was among the second set of inductees numbering 13.
Numbered collectable prints are now available for sale at a cost of only NZ$1675 at http://www.lynbeaumont.com There are only 250 prints available in New Zealand.
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