News

Emotion Flows As Belong To Many Sells

14th Apr 2009

Racing and Sports - Nathan Exelby - Tuesday, 14 April 2009

The wonderful ride for a huge team of owners came to an end at Newmarket today, when Group 2 winning mare Belong To Many was sold for $525,000.

The mare was knocked down to Vin Cox Bloodstock and there is every chance she may race on, but not in the colours of Shelley Hancox's Hancox Racing Number 1 Ltd Syndicate.

Belong To Many – who cost just $20,000 as a yearling in 2005 - has to date won seven races and $444,000 in prizemoney, highlighted by three stakes wins, including the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes.

The Barbara Joseph trained five-year-old ran second in the same race last Saturday before arriving at the Inglis complex ahead of today's sale.

A good number of the syndicate members were on hand to see her sold, with the mare's handlers reporting countless photos being taken by her proud owners prior to and following the sale.

“It's the end of the road,” Joseph said.

“Shelley Hancox and Rod Peacock (Syndicate Managers) are over the moon with that price. For a $20,000 yearling, $525,000 is great money.

“There were about 70 owners here to see her sold and it's been quite emotional. It's bad enough for me, but they become very attached to a horse like this and there were a few of them with tears.

“She's a great little mare and she still has 12 months racing in her if they look after her.”

The daughter of Belong To Me was knocked down to Vin Cox, who purchased her on behalf of a client who wishes to remain anonymous at this stage.

It was originally thought the mare had been purchased on behalf of Corumbene Stud, but the agent said this was not the case and she had been secured for another existing client.

“We were hoping to get her and we are pleased we have,” Cox said.

“I thought we would need somewhere between 500 and 550 to get her. It's not often you get things exactly right but on this occasion I did,” he laughed.

“She will race on in the short term in the hope of getting that elusive Group 1. We will then just see how she is going and a decision will be made later on as to whether she retires this year or races on (next season).”

No announcement has been made as to who will train Belong To Many in her new ownership.

Joseph confirmed that she had thrown her “hat in the ring” to retain the mare as she continues her racing career.

“I'd love to have her back, but we'll just see what happens,” she said.