To own a share in a Group One winner is a dream for any young racing fan, and for siblings Jamie and Casey Lock that dream has come true.
Their father, trainer Peter Lock, purchased Sierra Sue out of Ardsley Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock 2019 May Sale draft as a two-year-old for $2,000, and both Jamie and Casey became attached to the filly while she was in their care.
She was subsequently sold to Australian interests off the back of a trial win at Te Aroha later that year and has gone on to win eight of her 18 starts for Cranbourne trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
The Locks followed her racing career with keen interest and were jubilant when she was victorious in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last month.
Off the back of reading an article about the Lock family’s continued interest in the mare, Sierra Sue’s principal owner Ozzie Kheir made contact with Peter Lock and gifted Jamie and Casey a one percent share in the mare.
“It is a dream come true,” Peter Lock said. “I have never met the bloke in my life and he rings me up after reading an article on Sierra Sue.
“He was touched by it and out of the blue to give my children a one percent share is just terrific. There are some great buggers out there in the racing game. I just can’t thank him enough.”
Both Jamie and Casey were ecstatic to be given a share in the Group One winner and while they have enjoyed watching Sierra Sue compete before, they said owning a part of her adds to the excitement heading deeper into spring racing.
“It has been an amazing past week. Dad got a phone call a couple of days after she won the Group One and it has been surreal,” Jamie Lock said.
“Watching her race was exciting enough without a share, but now it is going to be amazing.
“We just wanted to follow her because Dad bought her at the sales and we did the work with her and got her ready.
“Her winning over there feels like we were winning and what has happened now it is a bonus.
“Trent (Busuttin) is a good mate of ours and my cousin Brendan works for him too, it’s just been a big friend and family affair.”
The Locks have also received plenty support from the residents of their hometown of Te Aroha after hearing the news.
“A small town like Te Aroha, a lot of the people around the town have got wind of it and they are all over the moon for us. It’s a big thrill going forward,” Jamie said.
While unable to be there in Australia to watch his mare compete, Jamie said he is getting plenty of satisfaction watching her on the television.
“I am hoping I can get over there at some point when the borders open up so I can watch her live, but watching her on TV is a huge thrill,” he said.
“She has done us proud so far, so whatever she does from here is going to be icing on the cake.”
Meanwhile, Peter Lock is looking forward to getting Group One performer Hifyler’s spring preparation back on track at Te Aroha on Sunday.
The nine-year-old gelding had his first run in more than two years when finishing last in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa in August and Lock expects to see a more polished performance this weekend when he lines-up in the Apparelmaster Waikato Open Handicap 1400.
“We are very happy with his progress from his first run,” Lock said.
“His first run people might think was pretty average. We went out there to have a canter around and make sure his legs came through the race good without any pressure.
“He will run a much better race this week and I think he may just need this one more run after two years off the scene and no trial. He will be a lot more competitive this week and I think we will then have him 100 percent.
“He has tightened up so much just on his first run. We are really happy with him. If he holds together I am confident he will win races.”
The Lock family are sitting on cloud nine at the moment and can’t wait for the future with both Hiflyer and Sierra Sue set to race at elite-level on either side of the Tasman.
“Life couldn’t be any better at the moment,” Lock beamed. “We have got some lovely horses going around and to top it all off a bloke gives you one percent each of a Group One horse. It’s fantastic.” – NZ Racing Desk
