He is the king of Karaka: the leading vendor (on aggregate) at the New Zealand National Yearling sales.

In February, Sir Patrick Hogan marked his 31st year holding that title. To underscore his credentials, a colt offered by the Cambridge Stud he and Lady Hogan own topped the sales at $1.75 million. All this from a venture that started in the early 70s with one staff member and five foals (four of whom would die before they could breed).

Then came the legends. Mare Sir Tristram went on to become the world’s lading sire of Group One winners. And after Sir Tristram, there was Zabeel – who has sired 41 individual Group One winners. Cambridge Stud is thus recognised as the No 1 nursery for Australasian thoroughbred champions. Added to that is its strong broodmare band – including Eight Carat.

Sir Patrick has been placed on the New Zealand Herald list of sport’s most powerful people. “Hogan’s experience and financial clout give him huge influence over breeders and trainers,” it noted

Perhaps, then, someone was listening to him when he opined at Karaka this year that he thought the thoroughbred industry deserved “a hell of a lot more credit” than it currently got from any political party. “I don’t think they recognise or acknowledge the worth of the thoroughbred industry to the overall economy,” he told the Herald.