The thrill of having a Melbourne Cup runner is something most of us would give our eyeteeth for. The reality is that the opportunity exists. But at R10,24 for just one Aussie Dollar, the dream may have to remain just that for some of us.
A 25% share in Caulfield and Melbourne Cup contender Mustajeer – a recent winner of the prestigious Ebor Handicap in the UK – will be offered through Inglis Digital’s Online Sale platform next Tuesday and Wednesday.
In last week’s SP Digest (#2603) we reported on local owner Braam van Huyssteen’s acquisition of shares in Mustajeer and Raileen House with an eye on the Melbourne Cup.
The charismatic takkie entrepreneur has walked this buy-in road previously. He purchased shares in champion Legal Eagle from Markus Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators just weeks before the dual SA Horse Of The Year romped to his third Gr1 L’Ormarin’s Queens Plate victory.
At the time there were mutterings that it was hardly sporting or noble to buy in late to achieve a Gr1 success. But the fact remains that it takes giant you-know-whats and the capacity to sign a serious cheque. And in this tail tugging sport, too many are watching and waiting to snigger at the dream plan that went awry.
But history and the photographs will always reflect that Van Huyssteen owned Legal Eagle and the photographs on the wall of his bar at his George home proudly show his gelding parading with the beautiful blue and white garland of the prestigious sponsors.
And now there is an opportunity for somebody else to join Braam and his long-time partner William Henderson and others in the exciting Mustajeer, a 6yo gelded son of Medicean, who arrived at Werribee last week.
Mustajeer has been transferred to trainer Kris Lees and will race in the Australian Bloodstock colours.
A Gr1 placegetter in Europe behind champion Magical in this year’s Tattersalls Gold Cup, he also split leading European stayers Master of Reality and Southern France in the Vintage Crop Stakes in April, is currently rated A$15 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Caulfield Cup and A$18 for the Melbourne Cup.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver has been booked for the Caulfield Cup ride, for which the horse has been allotted 55,5kg. The Ebor Handicap has been a key lead up race for Caulfield and Melbourne Cup raiders, with four of the past five Ebor winners lining up on the first Tuesday in November.
For prospective bidders in doubt, there is some encouragement in the list of Ebor winners to have performed well in either Cups during the past decade. They include Purple Moon (runner-up in 2007 Melbourne Cup), All Too Good (winner of 2008 Caulfield Cup), Heartbreak City (runner-up in 2016 Melbourne Cup) and Nakeeta (fifth) in 2017 Melbourne Cup.
This year’s Caulfield Cup is worth a record A$5m while the Melbourne Cup prizemoney has been boosted again to A$8m.
Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said the sale was a coup for Online Auction platform.
“It’s also a great chance for someone to buy into a horse with Mustajeer’s profile – who is not only qualified for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup – but is a live chance in both races,’’ Melmeth said.
The Gr1 Caulfield Cup is slated for Saturday 19 October at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne. The race is the feather in the cap of Melbourne Racing Club’s prestigious 3-day Spring Racing Carnival in October.
Australia’s greatest sporting and cultural icon, the A$8 million Lexus Gr1 Melbourne Cup is the feature of Cup Week and will be run on Tuesday 5 November.
If the dates fit in with your schedule, bidding on the 25% Mustajeer share at 09h00 (AEDT) on Tuesday 8 October with Final Countdown commencing at 17h00 (AEDT) on Wednesday 9 October.
Terms and Conditions will be available on the listing.
Interested parties must register to bid at www.inglisdigital.com.
Please see the latest SP Digest – click on the image below
