Owners reject big offer for Wisdom Of Water
Chinese mainland-based Mr An’s Golden East Horse syndicate, owner of prominent Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) contender Wisdom Of Water (Headwater), has rejected a significant six-figure sum for the exciting colt on the eve of the $2 million juvenile feature.
The Trent and Toby Edmonds-trained two-year-old, who suffered a shock defeat at Eagle Farm on debut in November, burst back into Magic Millions contention with victory in last Saturday’s $125,000 Aquis Gold Nugget (1100m) at the Gold Coast when ridden by Robbie Fradd.
Magic Millions’ David Chester confirmed yesterday that he had made an offer, believed to be close to $700,000, for Wisdom Of Water on behalf of Australian interests.
“We offered them big money for Wisdom Of Water before the barrier draw and Mr An said he would sell but his partners didn’t want to,” Chester said.
“They wanted him before the race and the barrier draw naturally. I really thought we were a big chance of buying him but Mr An’s partner said it was the first horse they’d owned.”
Blandford Bloodstock’s UK-based Australian agent Stuart Boman purchased Wisdom Of Water from the Eureka Stud draft for $70,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he will become the first mainland China-owned horse to run in the Magic MIllions 2YO Classic.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s $10 million race–day will be broadcast into Hainan Island to the south of China, the first time a Queensland race meeting has been televised into the country.
“The Chinese Central Government is going to make it one of their free-trade zones and there’s talk about a racetrack being built there in the coming years,” Chester said.
“They have a satellite television station that beams right throughout China. They called me the other day the girl that does the programming asked about broadcasting one or two Magic Millions races.
“They have broadcast races from Melbourne before and they also broadcast the last Everest. We got onto Sky and they took over and now they are going to take the whole meeting.”