Failed sale has War Baby right in mix for Cup
KELVIN Hickmott is on the cusp of challenging for a second Beaudesert Cup in three years with a horse who is meant to be in Tasmania.
Hickmott, who won the 2016 Cup with Last Sight, thought he had five-year-old mare War Baby sold for $35,000 in the lead-up to last month’s Magic Millions Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
This time last year War Baby finished third in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup and did the same in the Listed Caloundra Cup at her next start.
War Baby’s career has garnered $312,170 in prizemoney but when Hickmott had her set to go to stud for a new owner, it went pear-shaped.
“I had her set for the sale and someone bought her before the sale so I took her out and then he didn’t (buy her),” Hickmott said.
“He sent an email saying the money was in my account and it wasn’t. It went on for about three weeks,
“That’s why her preparation has been a bit off. He didn’t want me to run her in races and just wanted me to do some light training so he could run in her Tasmania.
“He completed stuffed me around.”
Hickmott said the firm ground at Beaudesert may yet see him pull War Baby out of the race today.
Dual acceptor Allena, who is also entered for the Gold Coast today, was the $3 Beaudesert Cup favourite with Ladbrokes yesterday. War Baby was listed as a $21 chance.