Melbourne based bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke
breathed a sigh of relief as he signed the sale docket for Lot 287, a half
brother to 2014 Group I Victoria Derby winner Preferment that was knocked down to
his winning $420,000 bid during the second day of the National Yearling Sale at
Karaka.
Just moments earlier he had been engaged in a fierce battle to secure the son (pictured Trish Dunnell) of dual Cox Plate winner So You Think from the Windsor Park Stud draft all the
while keeping the colt's new owner, South Australian businessman Luke Koumi, up
with the play via cellphone as the war was waged.
"It was pretty close there and we went right to the wire to get him," said
Cooke.
"I had Luke on the phone and we were starting to worry we might miss out which
would have been really disappointing as we were so keen on him.
"Funnily enough I went to $150,000 for his half brother Preferment two years
ago before I pulled out so I wasn't ready to miss out again."
Cooke advised the colt would go to Morphetville based trainer Lloyd Kennewell
who trains a number of horses for Koumi including recent Magic Millions 3YO
Guineas winner Deiheros.
"Luke has had a lot of success in the past with horses we have bought at a more
modest level but we were of the view the pedigree of this colt meant he is a
stallion proposition if he can be successful on the track," he said.
Cooke had earlier outlaid $135,000 for a Mastercraftsman filly on the first day
of the sale who would do her future racing from the John McArdle stable in
Mornington– NZ Racing Desk