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Hall of fame trainer David Hayes and his co owners nearly didn’t own today’s Guineas starter Gregers.
In his capacity as Bloodstock manager for Lindsay Park, Mark Pilkington initially bought her dam Satnav for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale from prominent Queensland breeder Basil Nolan.
Andy Makiv’s (Victorian Nomination Sales Manager for Darley Australia) fledgling syndication company First Tuesday Racing syndicated her to his foundation clients, Colin & Janice McKenna and Brian & Jo Solomon, in a package with a filly by Catbird (who subsequently won 5 stakes races as Catechuchu). Hayes and Makiv rounded out the ownership group.
After an unsuccessful debut in the Listed Talindert Stakes, behind handy stablemate Miss Finland, Satnav won a Ballarat Maiden prior to being unlucky in the Adelaide Magic Millions. She won at Moonee Valley as a 3yo, before injury curtailed her career.
After retaining her first 2 foals to race (Fraar filly Fiesole and unraced 4yo mare by Churchill Downs Girl Guide) it was decided to sell her weanling filly and capitalise on the commercially ‘hot’ sire – the Darley based Commands.
She was offered at the Magic Millions weanling sale in June with a reserve of $80000 on her. Makiv takes up the story;
“Bryan and Jo were looking to reduce their interests and Emily and I had just bought a new house… We were confident that she would sell well on type and then her pedigree had a big recent update with a Group 1 winning 3yo (Gimmethegreenlight by More than Ready) in South Africa, his older half sister Ofcourseican would go on to win the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. The more we looked at her I became a reluctant seller but we were buoyed that pre sale inspections indicated she would sell well”
When she was in the ring Pilk decided that she was exactly the sort of filly he would be trying to buy at next years Yearling sales – and at much more money – so he entered the bidding and secured her for $130,000 after seeing off competition from the aforementioned Gimmethegreenlights South African owners.
Immediately after the sale there was some discussion about sharing the ownership of the filly with the South Africans, but the end result was Makiv and Solomon out and long time Lindsay Park clients Kevin & Ann Hall and Darren Thomas In.”
The filly was named after Makiv’s wife Emily – affectionately known as Gregers – through her maiden name Gregory.
Satnav missed her next 2 years at stud and died without producing another foal.
“Pilk has been involved every step of the way so
having Gregers on one of his pioneering fixed price training
packages adds to the thrill of her racing today!”
added part owner Colin McKenna.
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JANICE THOMPSON Part owner Gregers “We paid for our HTP package with prize money Gregers earned during her Autumn preparation. Our partners agreed it was a great opportunity to make a significant saving on training fees without drawing down from our personal funds. You don’t realise how much time you spend attending to monthly administration on your horses until you get the time back. We can’t wait till the product is available for our Warrnambool trainers as they desperately needthis type of structure and support.” MORE |
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DARREN THOMAS Part owner Gregers “I race horses with business colleagues from all over the world. The monthly administration involved with owning horses has been an impediment to getting new players into the game. Through Horse Training Packages I have been able to offer these professionals an all inclusive Assisting my trainers of choice with their cash flows is the icing on the cake for me.“ MORE |
For more information call Mark Pilkington on 0418 955 837