The irony of Group-winning gelding Howmuchdoyouloveme is that he was bought too cheaply to attract offers.
Trainer Con Karakatsanis paid just $5000 for the four-year-old, a price so low it put off potential buyers.
Now, with five wins under his belt, including last month’s Group Two Caulfield Sprint (1100m), Howmuchdoyouloveme will start favourite in the Group Two Yellowglen Stakes (1200m) at Flemington alongside his expensive rivals.
Karakatsanis described his surprise pick as “an absolutely lovely individual as a yearling” but the $5000 price tag put off buyers – and now they’re not wanted.
“After that no-one was really interested in taking shares in him, just because he was probably a $5000 buy,” he said.
“I reckon if he had have been a $100,000 buy he probably would have been snapped up pretty quickly.
“It’s funny how some owners think sometimes, but it’s lucky we ended up keeping him ourselves – he’s turned out alright.”
Karakatsanis said Howmuchdoyouloveme was a big yearling who was “all leg” and needed time to mature.
“He still hasn’t fully developed or fully learnt what it’s all about,” he said.
“He’s only had six starts now and he’s slowly putting it together but he’s still got a fair bit of improvement in him which puts him in good stead for the future.”
Buyers showed renewed interest after Howmuchdoyouloveme won his second barrier trial at Rosehill last year but an offer of $180,000 fell through.
Another $500,000 from Hong Kong collapsed after buyers learned he had had a wind operation, but Karakatsanis was not concerned.
“He probably wouldn’t have been for sale anyway,” he said.
“We’ll keep him. He’s good for the stable and good for my future.”
