A colt with a jaw-dropping price tag of more than AUD$9 million made his long awaited debut and it was less than impressive.
Poker, trained by Karl Burke, was purchased as a yearling for 4.3 million Guineas – the equivalent of around $9.2 million – by high-profile owner Kia Joorabchian. The big-money buy stepped out on Saturday morning Australian time where he ran a very disappointing sixth.
Despite the staggering price, Poker is not even the priciest member of his family. His dam Park Bloom is a half-sister to Al Naamah, who sold for 5 million Guineas back in 2013, cementing the family’s reputation for commanding extraordinary sums in the sales ring.
Poker (navy and white silks) finished sixth of eight horses in seven-furlong (1400m) contest at Haydock.
❌ Not a great start for the Wootton Bassett colt.
The 4,300,000gns purchase from the Tattersalls Book 1 Sale POKER finishes a one-paced sixth on debut for Karl Burke.
🤯 Would you still have faith in him after today’s debut performance at Haydock?
— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) September 26, 2025
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