By MIKE DILLON
Lee Freedman or Gai Waterhouse will train yesterday's $1.45 million record Zabeel-Marquise filly sold at Karaka.
Manila-based bloodstock agent Tic Tic Trinidad said the decision would be made at Easter.
Sir Patrick Hogan, who produced the filly under his Cambridge Stud banner, said he felt she may have made $2.2 million.
"But that was based on the hype of last year's sale and the market, in certain areas, is down on that."
Trinidad said he and his boss San Miguel beer baron Edwardo Conjuangco had been looking for two years for a filly from the family of Sir Partrick's champion broodmare Eight Carat.
"This is the best filly I've seen from the family and I'm delighted to have bought one."
Trinidad would not say he would have gone beyond the $1.45 million, but Sir Patrick was sure he would have if pushed by another bidder.
"She's a magnificent type and from a young mare, which I value highly," said Trinidad.
Trinidad said he had no idea who he was bidding against and his relaxed nature helped him through the long pause between when the last bid was placed and the fall of the hammer to end the sale.
Sir Patrick said he felt a little sorry for any purchaser who had to wait that long.
Visiting Irish auctioneer John O'Kelly said he was conscious of the importance of the sale and also of the possibility of a bid coming from a Japanese who was standing by ringside bid-spotter Guy Mulcaster having trouble making a connection with a cellphone.
The Japanese did not offer a bid.
"But I was conscious that he might," said O'Kelly.
"If he had, the price may have gone to $2 million.
"When they are as good as this filly, they're entitled to a bit more time."
The vendors of the filly, Malcolm Glenn and Mathew Oram, who raced Marquise, spent much of their working life in Hong Kong, Glenn in advertising and Oram in publishing.
Both were born in England, but spent their formative years in New Zealand.
Glenn is currently applying for citizenship and has developed a property at Matakana.
The pair have a 2-year-old sister to yesterday's record sale, which they will retain to race and eventually retire to stud.
"It would be nice for more of these sort of horses to be retained to race in New Zealand" said Glenn.
"After all it's the soul of our industry."
Oram's grandfather, Sir Mathew Oram, Speaker Of The House, raced high class Wellington Cup winner Golden Galleon.
Racing: Two-year search for filly over
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