Hayes Handed Reins To Guide Choice Colt

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday January 10, 2009

John Schell

DAVID HAYES sprung into action at yesterday's third session of the Magic Millions sale at the Gold Coast when named as the trainer of the top-priced $1.2 million colt by Redoute's Choice.

Hayes's team won out in a spirited bidding duel to secure the yearling out of former top racemare Kapchat, with the youngster to be raced by the same owners that have $2.1m earner and group 1 winner, Niconero.

The yearling had been bought as a weanling by the same connections for $620,000.

"He was simply a great individual with a great pedigree," Hayes said. "He's a pretty good-looking colt. Hopefully, he can run in the race [Magic Millions Classic] next year."

Hayes will also train the $1.1m Redoute's Choice-Twist My Heart yearling bought on the opening day, which was overshadowed by Gai Waterhouse paying a sale-high $2m for an Encosta De Lago-Surrealist colt.

The second-highest price yesterday was an Encosta De Lago-Larrocha filly, bought for $750,000 for a Hong Kong-based owner.

Manhattan Rain impresses Tidy

Gai Waterhouse produced well-bred colt Manhattan Rain to win a trial at Rosehill yesterday, and Colin Tidy's Betchoice.com shortened his Golden Slipper price to $26.

With Chris Munce in the saddle, the half-brother to top stallion Redoute's Choice scored by a short neck over Golden Slipper favourite and Breeders Plate winner, Real Saga.

"He trialled all right, I was pretty impressed with him," Munce said. "As you'd expect from one of Gai's two-year-olds, he was well educated and did everything right."

Waterhouse had last year's Golden Slipper winner Sebring down to trial but scratched the colt from his heat.

Moraitis jnr in legal stoush

Stephen Moraitis, a son of prominent thoroughbred owner Nick Moraitis, is facing a court battle with Matt Tripp's Darwin-based Sportsbet, which claims it is owed almost $4 million in unpaid gambling debts.

Sportsbet launched legal action to recoup the money last week, while Moraitis has also lodged his own claim against Sportsbet in the Federal Court, citing that the betting agency "took unfair advantage" of him in that he is a compulsive gambler.

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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