Toowoomba trainer Ron Macrae is hopeful Aquatorial can vindicate a decision not to sell the rising three-year-old to overseas interests when the gelding clashes with stablemate Slysera at Doomben.
The pair is set to meet in Saturday’s Mother Two-Years-Old Handicap (1110m) with both coming off last-start wins on their home track.
Aquatorial is owned by two Sydney doctors and local octogenarians Todd and Val Robinson who paid $50,000 for the son of Oratorio at the Magic Millions sale.
“They are having too much fun racing him and he’s not for sale,” Macrae said.
Macrae revealed the latest offer to buy Aquatorial came from Singapore three weeks ago before his first-up win against older horses in class three company on July 5.
“The owners have had three offers to sell him and the latest was for $400,000 from a client in Singapore,” Macrae said.
“I’ve received two good previous offers to sell him including one from Hong Kong but his owners aren’t interested.
“The previous money was very good as well but his two owners that live here in Toowoomba are in their 80s and they’ve said he’s not for sale.”
Aquatorial was ridden by apprentice Jason Letherby when he resumed to win by more than two lengths at his first start since early April.
Slysera also made a successful comeback against his own age over 850 metres at Toowoomba on June 18.
“They are both going very well and Aquatorial’s win against older horses was very impressive,” Macrae said.
“But I wouldn’t like to split them as Slysera is working the house down.
“Aquatorial has been in work for nine weeks and the other one has had a lot more grounding.”
Macrae believes he’s found the key to Aquatorial who had a bad habit of missing the start early in his career.
“He was a bit gate shy but he’s mended his ways since I took the blinkers off him two starts back and added winkers,” he said.
Macrae hasn’t ruled out a Sydney trip for the spring with Aquatorial if he maintains his winning form.
“His other two owners live in Sydney so there’s every chance he might go down there at some point in the future if he keeps winning,” he said.
AAP TURF
