By MIKE DILLON
The only certainty surrounding the $430,000 Zabeel-Surfin Bird colt Hong Kong-based Irishman Dan O'Donnell purchased at Karaka yesterday is that it will have a rugby name.
The colt, which O'Donnell claims was a steal at that price, is a replacement for Rugby Supreme, a topline Zabeel horse in Hong Kong which had to be retired last season when he cracked a sesamoid.
O'Donnell admits to being a big rugby fan, but a Hong Kong-based mutual friend of his and Rugby Supreme's trainer Peter Ho, is fanatical about the game, he says.
The Irishman was shy about revealing his name of this friend, but says there was a possibility he could end up in the ownership of the colt in Hong Kong.
O'Donnell is in love with his purchase.
"On his make and shape he was worth twice what we paid for him. He also has an okay pedigree, but pedigree doesn't win races, enormous athleticism like he's got does.
"This bloke walks like a ballet dancer - like a good rugby sevens player.
"Not a Jonah Lomu, more an Eric Rush."
O'Donnell was confident he and Ho know enough about training Zabeels, particularly in Hong Kong.
"You have to know how to train them mentally as well as physically."
Earlier O'Donnell paid $280,000 for the Desert King half brother to fine mare Showella.
The handsome colt, he said, was typical of the best of the Desert Kings.
His purchases, he says, could be passed on at a profit at any time.
"Of course, I've never heard of a pound note breaking its leg in a bank."
The best price in the first hour of yesterday's opening sale session was the $320,000 Canberra trainer John Morissey paid for the Zabeel-Snap colt offered by Lord Tavistock and the English arm of his Bloomsbury Stud.
But Lord Tavistock did not get to see the sale. He returned to the city earlier feeling unwell.
Snap, the 1993 Wrightson Filly Of The Year, had previously left a filly by Octagonal.
"This Zabeel colt was typical of his mother and we were worried his lack of size would be against him," said Bloomsbury Stud manager Rick Wylie.
"But he's beautifully balanced and could be a later 2-year-old."
Racing: Hong Kong-bound colt has Eric Rush look about him
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