It took two attempts, some forgiveness and plenty of persuasive talking but trainer Wendy Roche finally got her horse.
And for once it might have just been worth the trouble.
In Scone for their carnival last year, Roche spied a filly she wanted to buy at the Inglis sale.
She had to head home before the daughter of Oratorio went through the sale ring so she arranged for an agent to make the purchase on her behalf.
When she received a call from the agent saying the filly had been secured for $6,600 Roche was rapt.
“Then she rang back two minutes later and she said `Oh shit, I bought you the wrong horse’,” Roche said.
After finding out the filly she had wanted sold for $1500, Roche asked the agent to go to her buyer and offer more money.
“I said `can you go and offer them double and just explain the situation, that you bought the wrong horse’.”
The agent managed to secure the deal and Roche finally had the filly she wanted.
Her name is Patsy Girl and she will line up for her second start in Saturday’s Australian Turf Club Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm.
“The horse that was bought by mistake, we kept it and it’s a half sister to Midnight Martini,” Roche said.
“We’ve done all right.”
While the accidental buy is a staying type and yet to get to the races, Patsy Girl made a winning start to her career at her home track of Goulburn.
It wasn’t without drama either.
“There was another horse in the race with similar colours and I was following the wrong horse,” Roche said.
“It wasn’t until she got to the 200 I thought `oh gosh’.
“I have watched the replay and it was quite a creditable win.”
Patsy Girl faces a sharp rise in grade to Saturday city company, although Roche did take the softer option by scratching her from the Listed Rosebud (1200m) on the same program.
A win by the filly would be some welcome good news.
Stablemate Here De Angels is facing an uncertain future after owner John Crowley lost his appeal against a racing ban put on the barrier rogue by Racing Victoria in May.
Roche said Here De Angels could head overseas or remain in Australia as a hack.
