The enormous success of the syndicate set up two years ago by trainer Tony Pike may help him retain his latest stable star Tutukaka.
The rangy juvenile broke a drought for New Zealand-trained gallopers at Australia's major meetings in recent months when he smashed his four opponents in the A$125,000 opening race at Eagle Farm in Brisbane yesterday.
Tutukaka, a half-brother by Tavistock to recently retired heroine Melody Belle, sat outside the leader in the rare 1830m juvenile event the Life Members Stakes before racing clear at the top of the straight when the only question left was how large the margin would be. The answer was four lengths, a hell of a way to break a drought and a case of job done for Pike who sent Tutukaka to Queensland with this race in mind.
The win not only guarantees Tutukaka a start in the VRC Derby at Flemington in November but soon had the phone ringing with offers certain to be in the seven-figure range, almost the standard for elite level two and three-year-olds these days with the market so hot internationally.
"The phone has been ringing already and the offers will be big because while it wasn't the strongest field he is a good horse," he said.