The filly they bought races under the name Exquisite Jewel and on Saturday she
took her career record to four wins from just 13 starts with a victory in the
Gr. 3 Manawatu Classic at Awapuni after finishing a gallant 4th in
the Gr. 1 New Zealand Oaks at her previous start.Just 24 hours after the win part-owner Caroline Marner is still coming to terms with the victory and what it means for the syndicate who race the filly they bought on the spur of the moment just over two years ago.
Marner and her friends Bronwyn Bentley and Patricia (Trish) Lane arrived at Karaka 2012 determined to see what the annual sale was all about and came away from the visit with the thought they might like to increase their involvement in the coming years.
"We had been friends for a number of years and we all had a background in horses to some degree but we went to Karaka to really see what it was all about," recalled Marner.
"We had such a good time that we discussed returning one day and maybe buying something although we probably thought that may not be that realistic as we didn't have a lot of money to spend.
"We went back the next year and had a look at a few but they all went for well beyond what we could afford so it seemed like it wouldn't happen."
That's when fate stepped in as the trio sat in the sales auditorium during the Festival session of the 2013 sale.
"There had just been a colt through the ring that went for good money and the auditorium seemed to empty out when it was sold," said Marner.
"The next one in was a lovely looking filly by Lucky Unicorn and when we all looked at her pedigree the black type in the family was amazing so we all thought she would go for a pretty hefty sum.
"There were just no bids so when the first one was for $100 I said $200. There was another bid at $300 and I went one more and the next thing we knew they knocked her down to us for $400.
"We weren't even registered to bid so we had to get that sorted out and once we signed the papers we had to find someone to take her home."
The lucky recipient was Foxton trainer Sue Walsh, a friend of Lane, who took possession of the filly from Montjeu mare Game Duchess who was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan. Featuring in the filly's extended pedigree is multiple stakes winner Marquise who is the dam of Group One winner Shower of Roses and hails from the powerful Eight Carat family that includes champion performers Octagonal, Diamond Lover and Kaapstad.
"We just couldn't believe we had managed to buy a filly from such an illustrious family for only $400," said Marner.
"At that stage we were just hoping she could win a nice race as that would set her up as a breeding proposition even if she failed to kick on during her racing career but to do what she has done so far is just beyond our wildest dreams.
"We are so thankful of the job that Sue and Bruce (Gregory) have done with her as they have been superb right from day one and after she won her first race as a two-year-old, where she beat Saavoya, they told us that she was going to be a pretty handy filly as she got older."
The filly provided notice that her forte was likely to be over ground with her second win coming over 2100 metres at Woodville in October before proving she had matured mentally when winning fresh-up over 1200 metres at Wanganui in January following a brief summer break.
"Robbie (Hannam) said to us that she won like a good stayer even though it was over a sprint distance at Wanganui and then she ran 3rd over a mile in the Desert Gold Stakes behind Platinum Witness to show she was ready to tackle the better fillies over ground," explained Marner.
"She didn't have a lot of luck at Te Rapa or Hawkes Bay in her next two starts but we knew she was ready for the Oaks by then and she just went unbelievably to finish fourth after being wide for most of the way.
"For me it was as good as a win as having a horse run in a race like that and to finish so close was something you only dream about.
"Now she has just won a Group Three race and I just don't know how to describe the feeling. It's something I never thought I would experience and something I will savour for the rest of my life."
Marner was unsure where the filly would head next but admitted there would be plenty of celebrations over the coming days for the syndicate who have struck gold for just $400. - NZ Racing Desk
