gavelhouse.com graduate Aigne took his earnings to over 58 times his $3,000 purchase price with his race-record winning effort in Sunday’s Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle at Ellerslie.
Bought as an unraced four-year-old in March of 2017 for $3,000 from Highview Stud, Aigne has won $158,714 for owner and former conditioner Neil O’Dowd who has handed the training duties over to Kevin Myers in recent times.
O’Dowd had been fearful that the firm track conditions would play against the son of Sufficient however after failing to qualify for a second tilt at the A$304,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool in late November, he and Myers opted for plan B which was to tackle both the Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle and the Boutique Body Corporates Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) in a fortnight.
“The programme mucked him up as we were aiming for the Jericho but when he finished fourth in the qualifying race that was off the table,” O’Dowd told Racing News.
“We had to run him today to see what happened as we are keen to tackle the Great Northern as well.
“He’s a very good jumper and I don’t think he will have any problem with the extra distance of the Northern.”
Jumps statistician Chris McQuaid confirmed the winning time of 3:52.68 for the 3350m journey was both a new race record and Ellerslie track record for the event after stablemates Revolution and No Tip set up a breakneck speed in front for most of the race.
There are currently 41 Lots for sale online now including recently retired Group Two winner Hello It’s Me (NZ) (Darci Brahma) with bidding closing from 7pm on Monday 12 October.
Photo & story: Race Images & Racing News.
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