The $20 million prize money for The Everest may have attracted the fastest horses and elite jockeys but the owners enclosure at Royal Randwick will be packed with everyday Aussies.
The latest horse to secure a slot in the world’s richest race on turf is one of four owned by syndicates with tradies, vets, doctors and business people all owning a share.
“I am that excited I cannot tell you,” Gold Coast electrical contractor Paul Felgate said after the five-year-old mare Espiona he has a share in was confirmed in the race.
“I have been gambling on the horses since I was 15 and I am 65 now and in 50 years I never dreamt I would have a horse in a $20 million race,” he said.
Espiona was yesterday confirmed in trainer Chris Waller’s slot with Winx jockey Hugh Bowman booked to fly back from Hong Kong to ride her.
Mr Felgate is one of 10 owners in the syndicate put together by Denise Martin from Star Thoroughbreds and will be at Royal Randwick on October 14 with owners from all walks of life.
“I am booking my accommodation right now,” he said.
Ms Martin said the excitement at the news was shared by all the owners no matter how big a percentage share they have in the horse.
“There are 12 horses in this highly prestigious race and our mare is one of them. It is a great privilege to be there,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter how big a share people have in the horse, they all get the same thrill out of watching it race and hopefully win.”
Sydney based software executive Martin Ive said syndicated ownership had made his dream of owning a racehorse a reality.
“I used to follow racing in England where it was the preserve of the elite but here the syndicates have made it possible for someone like me to have a horse in the world’s richest race,” he said.
Another syndicated horse in The Everest, Mazu, confirmed his fitness to run in the world’s richest race on turf at a barrier trial at Rosehill yesterday.
The trial featured four other runners in The Everest with Overpass leading Mazu, Buenos Noches, In Secret and Shinzo to finish first. Afterwards Shinzo was confirmed in the Coolmore slot.
Mazu had been pulled from the Premiere Stakes on Saturday due to a minor injury but a trip to the chiropractor put the Peter and Paul Snowden trained gelding back on track.
Triple Crown Bloodstock director Sam Manion said Mazu had a syndicate of 14 owners who had taken shares when the horse was bought for $180,000.
“We have got owners who are very wealthy and others who live month to month and they will nearly all be there together to watch Mazu run in The Everest,” he said.
“We have got retirees, tradies, emergency doctors, vets and corporate employees,” he said.
“At least one has said their share of the almost $7 million Mazu has won in prize money has literally changed their life.”
Two other horses in the race, Private Eye and Think About It, are both trained by Joe Pride at Warwick Farm and are owned by syndicates of owners.
Even before The Everest is run the owners of Think About It, who together paid $70,000 for the gelding, have seen $3.4 million in prize money.
The owners of Private Eye, who together paid $62,500 for the six-year-old, have shared $6.9 million in prize money.
