Eye-catching Husson (Chi) gelding Looks Like The Cat has been sold to Hong Kong and will do his future racing under the care of leading local trainer Casper Fownes.
The flashy chestnut gelding has so far raced 7 times for a 2YO win in Brisbane as well as second placings in the Group 2 VRC Danehill Stakes, BRC Champagne Classic and Group 3 MRC Caufield Guineas Prelude.
The Tony Gollan trained 4YO was also third in the Group 1 BRC JJ Atkins Stakes and Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Managing owner Schmidt spoke to the Courier Mail while Looks Like The Cat was being loaded onto a float at his River Junction Farm in Gympie on Tuesday and said he had mixed emotions about the sale.
After purchasing Looks Like The Cat for $60,000 as a weanling in May 2012, Schmidt also bought his mother Fiery Dee for $10,000 at a Patinack Farm broodmare sale months later and said the future still looked bright for his breeding operation. Fiery Dee returned to Husson this season is what has been a big year for the former Patinack now Vinery owned stallion.
"I've got mixed feelings about the sale but we are breeders and we have got to be seen to be sellers," he said.
"It's a bit exciting really because we've got a half-sister to him by Murtajill going through the (Magic Millions) yearling sale in January and we have a full sister to him on the ground and the mare is 45 days positive to Snitzel.
"All of (Fiery Dee's foals) will be for sale and we have recently purchased Fiery Dee's sister as part of our broodmare band as well."
Schmidt, who sold Looks Like The Cat for $175,000 prior to his first start only for the deal to fall through, did not reveal how much the Husson gelding was sold for but said the offer "was too good to refuse".
Gollan has trained Group 1 winners Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom but said Looks Like The Cat was potentially the best horse he has put a saddle on.
"It is disappointing to lose a horse of his calbire but I respect the owners decision," Gollan said.
"There had been a fair few offers on the table at the conclusion of the Brisbane winter carnival but they were knocked back.
"They came again at the end of his spring campaign and his owners sat down and had a long think about it before deciding to take the bird in the hand rather than chasing two in the bush.
"It is hard to compete against the money that is being offered, it is easy to see why owners would look to cash in their chips."
The Husson gelding leaves Australia with only one win next to his name from seven starts but he has notched five Group placings already.
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