MELBOURNE - Kaapstad Way is not for sale at any price this side of Tuesday's running of the Melbourne Cup, the horse's New Zealand managing owner Garry Melville-Smith said.
He was commenting on a Melbourne newspaper report that $A1 million ($1.34m) had been offered for Kaapstad Way.
Melville-Smith, of Auckland, said there had been inquiries from bloodstock agents asking about prices but he thought it was nothing more than that.
"We have had a few offers over the last few weeks but I'm not sure what the numbers go to," Melville-Smith told NZPA.
"It was all talk as far as I was concerned. There was never anything in writing."
Melville-Smith said his family trust, Chatsworth, which is the owner of Kaapstad Way was not about to part with the horse this close to Tuesday's $A3 million Melbourne Cup.
"The answer is the horse isn't for sale at the moment. We are so close to the Melbourne Cup that we would like to have a go there, weather permitting."
Melville-Smith said such inquiries were made to the horse's Waikato trainer Chris Wood and he had been given instructions on how to reply.
"Chris has been told to let people know we might review the matter after the cup but we are not really interested before the cup.
"As far as I am concerned, until you see something in writing you don't take too much notice."
Wood said the newspaper was taking a punt on what the figure was.
"It was a big offer," Wood told NZPA.
"But I never told them what it exactly was."
Wood was not about to reveal details.
"I'm not going to confirm what it was. It was a good offer but nothing sort of came of it. I heard nothing more."
Kaapstad Way, who had been the outright cup favourite, has been joined by Caulfield Cup winner Diatribe and Sydney Cup winner Streak at 8-1 with Melbourne bookmaker Michael Eskander.
Diatribe and Steak both have wet track form and showers are forecast each day until Tuesday. There was heavy rain in Melbourne yesterday morning.
Melville-Smith arrived in Melbourne yesterday afternoon when the weather had cleared.
Racing: Kaapstad Way's owners say he is not for sale
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