LONGFORD trainer Bill Ryan has heard his share of racing tales over the years including some weird and wonderful reasons why owners have purchased their steeds.
But when Ryan’s lightly races four-year-old El Sunera broke his maiden status under lights in Launceston last Thursday he revealed one reason that takes the cake.
El Sunera, owned and raced by John and Neredine Boer and Harvey and Suzanne Cuthill, was impressive and gave the impression he would draw benefit from the outing which augers well for the immediate future.
Ryan explained that John Boer purchased the gelding at the 2007 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
“When John asked me to have a look at this horse after he’d bought it I asked him why, because he wasn’t the best looking yearling I’d ever seen,” Ryan said.
“John proceeded to tell me that he bought the horse because the initials (JPB) that were branded on the horse’s shoulder were the same as his (initials)”.”
“That blew me away but as time passed the horse developed well and I am sure there are more wins in store for El Sunera,” he said.
Boer paid only $8000 for El Sunera (King of Prussia-El Mirer) that was offered at the sale by Clearview Thoroughbreds.
El Sunera went into last Thursday night’s assignment at The TOTE Racing Centre on the back of a luckless third to stablemate Delz Bells at the same track.
“Had anyone bothered to have a good look at this horse’s previous run they would have realised he was probably a good thing beaten and I rated him a huge chance of winning and I even told the owners he would probably be favourite,” he said.
Happily for the owners El Sunera was a drifter in the betting and paid $7.50.
Ryan said El Sunera would have his next start in a class one handicap over 1200 metres in Launceston next Thursday (June 3).