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3.
Lions Pair
Chasing Magic Millions Victory
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03/01/2003 |
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Brisbane
Lions Michael Voss and Craig McRae are set to descend on the $1 million Magic
Millions race at the Gold Coast on January 11 along with a busload of Lions
players to support their runner Imperialism.
Imperialism, among several Gai Waterhouse-trained runners to contest the
lucrative 1200 metre race, was purchased by Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds
for $35,000 at the 2001 Magic Millions sale. Martin is key speaker at the
Aushorse Ownership Forum at the Magic Millions sale complex on January 10 at
10am.
She syndicated Imperialism to a group of Queenslanders including Lions captain
Voss and McRae, who confesses the adrenalin rush watching the youngster race is
more intense than playing in a grand final!
"My wife and daughter came with me to watch him win at Rosehill and I have
to say it was far more nerve-wracking than playing football before thousands of
people," said McRae. "We're very fortunate to have a horse in the
race, it has been great fun all the way through, and we'll have about 20 Lions
there to watch him in the Magic Millions," he said.
McRae said he decided to get involved in ownership in January last year and
contacted Star Thoroughbreds. "It's incredibly exciting every time he
races, we just can't wait," he said.
Martin, whose Star Thoroughbreds is enjoying a purple patch at present with a
recent Successes including Stoway, who recorded his ninth career win in the
Group Three $200,000 Summer Cup at Royal Randwick on Boxing Day. Star
Thoroughbreds enjoyed a treble with Snippets galloper Marchioness and Ariante
also winning.
Martin will outline topics including syndication at the ownership forum while
leading Australian vendor Ron Gilbert of Highgrove Stud will discuss how he
became involved in thoroughbreds seven years ago.
Forum participants will have the opportunity to have a wide range of questions
answered by the experts and will tour the sale complex to inspect yearlings and
meet vendors and breeders.
The ownership forum series is part of a domestic marketing campaign undertaken
by Aushorse to promote the Australian thoroughbred. Two forums held to date have
attracted more than 120 people and a survey showed 81 per cent found the
hour-long session extremely useful.
"We find that people who attend our forums have already made independent
inquiries and they have a fair idea about options available to them, but many
have never attended a yearling sale and are not sure where to begin," said
Aushorse marketing manager Bronwyn Farr. "We receive very specific
questions relating to topics such as scoping, X-rays, post-sale transport and
participants are usually keen to obtain information about issues such as the
cost difference between having a horse prepared in the city or at a provincial
or country track," she said.
"The forums aim to provide an informal introduction to thoroughbred sales
and put participants in contact with people who can help them," she said.
"I hope in time that the concept will grow and attract the support of
industry stakeholders such as the principal race clubs."
Aushorse is also holding a forum at 9.30am on January 21 to coincide with the
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at the Inglis Newmarket complex in Sydney.
all Bronwyn Farr on 0417 680 553 or 02 6545 9329 or register online at
www.racenet.com.au to attend the forum.
Cost is $10 (payable on the day) and places are strictly limited.
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