Black Caviar and Luke Nolen, sporting the famous silks, on their way to win the Newmarket Handicap

There are no more famous racing silks in the entire country than the salmon and black polka dots worn by the fortunate jockey of Black Caviar and there’s more than a few who would love the chance to put them on.

While Luke Nolen is quite comfortable with his current position and unlikely to let it go anytime soon, the public had a chance in New Zealand to secure their piece of history and at the same time do their bit to help a devastated region.

A massive $34,500 was the final price paid for the racing silks worn when Black Caviar recorded a record breaking victory in Group 1 Newmarket Handicap and the Australian high Timeform rating of 135.

They were also signed by Peter Moody and Luke Nolen and sold at the Racing For Christchurch gala dinner hosted by the Auckland Racing Club with all proceeds going directly to those devastated by the February earthquake.

Fittingly it was an Australian who fronted the cash, local trainer Bevan Laming going to extraordinary lengths to be a part of Black Caviar story.

Laming may have got a bit caught up in the moment though, going well above the initial budget he had discussed with his friend and Cambridge bloodstock agent John White.

“Bevan rang me the other day just as I was delivering the display to Russell Warwick at Westbury Stud and said he had seen the auction on the internet and was keen to get them,” White aid.

“He said he would go to $5000, perhaps a bit more.

“I said I thought they’d make between $5000 and $10,000.”

Bidding over the phone through the Auckland Racing Club Chairman Russel Warwick, Laming was pushed all the way by Sir Patrick Hogan, a New Zealand based breeding icon.