By Mike Dillon
A cheque in hand for $A565,000 and a few days to think has not softened Helen Aynsley's resolve.
Her bank manager is going to cop an earful.
Actually, that should read former bank manager.
Aynsley hasn't changed banks yet, but she will at week's end when she arrives back from the Gold Coast where on Sunday night she topped the Magic Millions yearling sale at $A475,000 with her Zabeel-Papa's Beauty colt.
The Cambridge horse trader says her wildest dream in life came true when Melbourne Cup king Bart Cummings offered the $A475,000 at auction and her only disappointment is that her bank manager wasn't standing alongside her at the time.
Aynsley is an expert at pinhooking - buying young horses for moderate prices, developing them to a higher level, and selling, hopefully at a good profit.
From the profit of last year's sale she had no problem paying the $27,500 for the Zabeel colt last May, or the $10,000 for the Mukaddamah colt she sold for $A90,000 at the weekend, but a few months ago needed $25,000 for operating expenses until the yearlings were sold.
"The bank manager said no, despite the fact I had a freehold property worth $500,000 and have never had a mortgage or overdraft."
Even after securing the money elsewhere Anysley admits she had some "desperate financial moments."
When she bought the colt she thought she'd turn $30,000 into $100,000. But suddenly the Zabeels were winning everything, including the Jezabeel-Champagne Melbourne Cup quinella and the sights were raised.
"When I got to the sale and got the feedback from some of the best judges in the business, I suddenly realised I had something very special.
"Some of the best in the business walked away after looking at him saying:
"You're a very lucky woman."
"I thought $A250,000 or $A300,000 would be a beautiful result, but I never dreamed of $A475,000."
Presumably neither did the bank manager.
Merely changing banks won't be enough to purge Aynsley's anger, she wants to see the manager to tell him personally.
"That sounds awfully arrogant, doesn't it, and I don't ever want to be arrogant, but I was hurt over this."
Aynsley may need a disguise to secure further bargains at next month's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka yearling sale - being successful in her game carries the price of being bumped up at auction.
Horse Racing: Kiwi hits the jackpot
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