It seems you just cannot keep owner Brae Sokolski out of the headlines.
Whether it is the crowning success with his Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant … or his trials and tribulations with the same mare during her European campaign … or his success stories with the likes of Incentivise and Sir Dragonet, amongst others, there can be no question at all that Sokiolski is one very big player indeed in the racing game.
And he is not just making waves in Australia.
Buyers at Monday’s horses in training sale in Deauville in France can attest to that.
The previous record price for that sale was 420 000 euros, a mark established in 2019. Last year’s top price was 315 000 euros.
Enter Sokolski and his quest to purchase a horse called Carini … and the rest they say is, quite literally, is history with Sokolski going to a new sales price record of 600,000 euros (approximately A$925,000) to secure his prize, making his record -breaking purchase through agents Nicolas Lefevre (Equos Racing) and Louis Le Metayer (Astute Bloodstock).
Trainer Francis Graffard, who had Verry Elleegant in his care during her European sortie, had been the focal point of motivation for Sokolski to move forward with the purchase after Graffard has sung the praises of Carini.
Graffard, who is the Aga Khan Studs primary trainer in France, had worked with Carini and he was quick to contact Sokolski about the opportunity to purchase the horse once it was listed in the sales catalogue.
“Francis contacted me and was effusive in his praise for the horse, his ability, and held the belief he would measure up to some better races in Australia,” Sokolski told Racing.com, adding that Graffard had said he felt that Carini would be a good fit in the Australian racing scene.
“Given that endorsement from Francis, I felt that he was one worth pursuing,” said Sokolski.
Carini will now make his way to the Danny O’Brien stable with where the intention will be to allow the horse to progress at its own pace.
“We’ll look to take him through his grades in the autumn but we’re not rushing to set him for major races in 2023, it might be more about the year following,” concluded Sokolski.
Carini has won three times (with two minor placings) from only six starts.
