By MIKE DILLON
If anyone was wondering why it took an eternity for Irish auctioneer John O'Kelly to knock down yesterday's record $1.45 million Zabeel-Marquise filly, it was because of a Japanese having trouble with a cellphone.
When the bidding on the filly stalled at what was the selling price, ringside bid-spotter Guy Mulcaster paid a lot of attention to the Japanese trying unsuccessfully to get a connection out of the Karaka sales complex.
It brought back nightmare memories of last year when the cellphone pf Manila-based bloodstock agent Tic Tic Trinidad dropped out halfway through his bidding on the $3.6 million Zabeel-Diamond Lover colt before he re-established the link and bought the colt.
Trinidad had been talking to San Miguel beer baron Edwardo Conjuanco, who bought yesterday's prized lot.
"Three times he indicated he was trying to bid, but he never actually got to put in a bid," said Mulcaster of yesterday's incident.
Trinidad this time had no problems with his cellphone connection to Manila and bid confidently through the bidding, which had opened at $1 million.
New Zealand Bloodstock employee Andrew Seabrook put in the opening $1 million bid on behalf of a Sydney-based client of the company.
Marquise, the dam of yesterday's record -priced filly, is a daughter of champion broodmare Eight Carat.
Another daughter of Eight Carat, Diamond Lover, was the dam of last year's $3.6 million colt.
The filly will be sent immediately to Conjuangco's Gooree Stud in New South Wales, where last year's top lot was allowed to develope before being sent to Lee Freedman's Melbourne stable.
Named Don Edwardo, the $3.6 million colt has been spelled after developing shin sorenesss and is expected to race later this year.
Sir Patrick Hogan, who presented the filly under the banner of his Cambridge Stud, said he felt the filly may have made $2.2 million, but said he was basing that on the hype of last year's sale.
Racing: Phone woes delay final call
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.