Payday beckons for Rich Hill stud

  • 25/01/2016
(Photosport file)
(Photosport file)

After months of preparations, pay day is just moments away for Rich Hill stud.

"I'm a little bit nervous to tell you the truth. A lot of work's gone into this horse, two years of planning. It starts before they're born. We've got a nice article and things have gone well," John Thompson said.

That article is Lot 45, a full brother to Melbourne Cup winner Pride of Penzance.

After a quick photo op it's off to the sales ring. Among the onlookers is Michelle Payne who rode the colt's brother to victory at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November. 

The stylish colt makes $200,000.

"It looked a real quality sort of a horse with class written all over him so it's going to be exciting to see how he goes," Payne said.

And Payne will be keen to be the colt's rider.

"Absolutely I'll be bugging the trainer."

The new owner is Melbourne trainer Henry Dwyer.

"Michelle isn't backwards in coming forward to get the rides she wants," Dwyer said.

The trainer reckons even at $200,000 he got a bargain.

"I was willing to be pretty strong on him and go a bit higher than that."

The colt will now head to his new home across the Tasman.

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