KEY POINTS:
Waikato bloodstock agent Adrian Clark wondered what he had let himself in for when a mare was involved in two nasty incidents soon after he had purchased her.
But if there were any second thoughts at the time they are now well behind Clark after the mare, named Sarajay, won the group two $120,000 Travis Stakes (2000m) for fillies and mares at the Cambridge Jockey Club's meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Sarajay was purchased by Clark just three months ago and made her debut for him when fourth at Matamata on February 24.
But the horse returned to the birdcage with blood on her head and it was found she had been hit by a shoe that had come loose from a rival horse.
"It fractured an eye socket," Clark said. "The vet had to take a 1cm-long bone out of the socket and stitched it back up."
Clark was surprised at the vet's assurance all would be well and was more surprised when Sarajay, at her next start, won the $50,000 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on March 7.
"The vet said don't worry about it, it's no big deal and 10 days later she wins the Westbury Classic," Clark said.
Then about a week later another anxious situation arose when a shoe of Sarajay's came adrift and became lodged into the wall of her stable box.
"They needed bolt cutters to cut the shoe to free her. By this time we were starting to think was she injury-prone?
"But from there on it has just been onwards and upwards. She has got stronger and stronger and better and better."
Sarajay has raced six times for Clark for two wins, two thirds and a fourth. Saturday's win has confirmed the Danasinga's 6-year-old's value as a future broodmare which was one of the reasons Clark bought her.
Clark, 47, in his role as a bloodstock agent, had been considering buying Sarajay for a year but could not find a willing client.
"But I kept following her. She was always in the back of my mind and I made the plunge to buy her ourselves [in January].
"I thought here's a racehorse we can have some fun with and who has residual value as a broodmare."
Sarajay was previously trained by Stephen McKee and owned by his father Trevor in partnership with Waikato breeder Joan Egan.
"They weren't desperate to sell her but she was there for sale if someone wanted to buy her." Clark said. "Trevor said to me you'll win a good race with this mare."
Her overall record is now 34 starts for eight wins, four seconds, four thirds and stake earnings of $240,000.
- NZPA
