Sydney Autumn Carnival of Racing - What's the Story

What's the Story before his biggest race

Not the result we wanted in the Australian Derby, but a fun day at the races nonetheless. 
We thought our boy was a good chance for a place, but as all of us know racing is a fickle game.  You can see on the tote board the eventual winner Tavago was at much higher odds, and the very hot favourite Tarzino came 4th.  However, it may be my fault What's the Story didn't do better. Apparently it is bad luck to take a photo of the horse before the race! LOL. If that were the case it would be a barren winner's circle as everyone is clicking away.

It had rained quite a bit in the week prior, and despite a 31 Celsius day on race day, the track didn't dry out sufficiently and was heavier than What's the Story likes. The jockey said the horse responded well when asked to sprint, but couldn't gain traction of the soft turf - when he has a firm track he's a sprinting demon, as we have seen earlier in the season.   Still, at 6th place in a very major race he ran well, won enough money to more or less cover the costs of getting him there, and ensured all of us owners who travelled over had a good day out. 

It's difficult to find hats anywhere in New Zealand - generally it is wisps of fabric or lace known as fascinators.  To me these are not even interesting, let alone fascinating; I really wanted a hat. As I mentioned in the last blog, my millinery career isn't promising - the apricot number is languishing, naked and unloved.  So the search was on.

Having despaired of finding anything suitable  at home it came as a relief to find the shops in Sydney groaning with race day outfits - dresses, hats (and fascinators), shoes, accessories. The Autumn Carnival is a Big Deal.  I am not sure of the genesis of the tradition, but Derby days are traditionally a black and white theme, so all those lining up for Fashion in the Field are in various monochromatic combinations.

a small section of the hat department in Myers, Sydney

I was sort of on theme, and no, not an entrant in the race day fashion stakes!  A group of owners had bought tickets into one of the hospitality spaces known as Little Sydney. It turned out ours was catered by Matt Moran (whom some of you will know if you have watched Australian Masterchef in the past - he is often one of the judges).  Having paid a substantial amount for the tickets, it was "free" food and drink all day, and very delicious it was too. 

Shockingly, a photo of me appears on the internet! Seen here with the owner of the syndication company.

So it is all over for What's the Story in his first season - not a bad debut year considering he has won about $140,000 for the year.  The plan now is to rest him til Spring then do a couple of races here and if all is well take him to Melbourne for the Spring. 

If it's to be Melbourne Cup I'll need a really good hat!

What's the Story

It isn't that I haven't been going anywhere or doing anything, I just haven't written about it! And now I am writing about something unexpected and quite exciting, for me a least.

Some of you already know that in 2014 I bought a 10% share in a race horse. I had read about syndicated ownership in a magazine and found out more about it, speaking to management and asking lots of questions. It looked like fun and while I've always liked the races I've not been a regular attender of race meetings.  Time for a new hobby!

It was just after the yearling sales that year so there were lots of syndicate shares available. I'd like to say I extensively researched all the horses, but when I saw this horse's lineage, that was the choice made.  A Savabeel colt whose sire was Zabeel, whose sire was Sir Tristram.  Genes will out!

So I have 10% of What's the Story - excellent name especially for Oasis fans.

And he's been doing well - very well.  A win on debut in September 2015 drew an offer of $500,000. The syndicate (correctly) assumed if he was worth that then it could only get better. And it has.   He had a few lacklustre performances while he got used to racing and worked out what he was supposed to do - that is run and not spend all his time eyeing up the fillies.
So we got a good win and then a brilliant 2nd in the New Zealand Derby a couple of weeks ago (beaten by a very very short margin) after which we were offered $1.3 million. Which we didn't take.

It was an extremely exciting race and as owners we had rather mixed feelings when he was second by half a head. As the trainer said, you’d rather lose by a length than a nose. 

If you want to relive the glory go here https://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/44627/9/Race-Detail.aspx and about a third of the way down the page you’ll see a video tab. He is number 10, blue and white silks and white helmet. The last 200m is a nail biter. 

Before the NZ Derby

He is now entered in the $AUS2million stake Australian Derby run in Sydney on 2nd April. I hope he does well cos this new hobby is costing a fortune in travel, shoes and new frocks! Luckily I have friends who own hats I can borrow.

Or here's an attractive 60's number I bought at a second hand shop for $10, thinking I could repurpose it! I'm told it makes me look like my mother. So far I have taken all the apricot flowers off and that's all the progress I've made. My career as a milliner may be very short. 

An Australian jockey has been lined up for the race - Blake Shinn. He has won multiple Group 1 races including the Melbourne Cup in 2008,  is 3rd in the NZW Metropolitan jockey premiership "league" riding 43 winners and $5 million in prize money so we hope he adds another couple to it!  He knows the course, how the other riders operate and is very experienced.

Answers to FAQs
I don't know exactly how many people are in the syndicate. For example, some couples own 10%; a father and son own 5% between them; some, like me, own a share on their own.

I can't remember what he was bought for at auction, I think it was around $NZ90,000.  The 10% was a bit more than $9,000 as it includes sale fees, vet fees and Xrays, rugs, breaking in etc etc.

When he places and collects money, the trainer gets 10%, the jockey gets 5% then what's left is divided according to ownership percentage. Unless you are building a war chest to take the horse to bigger races offshore. For example, to take What's the Story to the Australian Derby is about $NZ25,000 in costs.

He is still a stallion (hence his interest in fillies). Stallions often have to be gelded as they get too stroppy or grow too heavy, but this doesn't seem to be the case. This is a bonus for the future, as if he gets injured his lineage and good racing form mean he will still be worth good money out to stud.

No, I actually didn't go into it for the money - that would be a very false hope! I went into it for fun and that's what I'm having. Winnings are a nice bonus - and if he does well in the Australian Derby, a very nice bonus!

Taken before his very first trial