News

New player drinks to a filly with a future

22nd Nov 2009

Sun Herald - Craig Young - Sunday, 22 November 2009

THE truck salesman had had enough of the square-gaiters. Along came a thoroughbred horseman and the rest, as they say, is history. Misshiraz is proof of that.

The filly cranked it up to score in style at Rosehill yesterday, leaving new thoroughbred player Kevin Bastian and wife Irene more than happy. So, too, Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer.

''It is a funny story,'' Frazer revealed. ''I'd never met Kevin before. He lives at Windsor Downs, just five minutes from my place.

''Anyway, I was looking for this truck. My son Jordan, who strapped the filly today, was driving me mad, telling me I should go down and meet Kevin.''

Bastian takes over. ''I was going to ask Stan Bates if he wanted to go halves in a horse. I met Garry, told him I was looking for a horse.''

Back to Frazer. ''I told him to come down to the Classic Sales at William Inglis with me.''

Bastian again. ''I ended up buying three horses. Went back to the Easter sales and bought this one.''

Frazer drops in again with ''paid $80,000 and worth every cent'', to which Bastian adds: ''I've just picked up $62,000 in prizemoney [including $20,000 BOBS bonus].''

''Yeah, well, stop your whingeing,'' Frazer lets fly with a laugh. The pair head off to the winners' bar for a celebratory drink. May well have been a shiraz.

Frazer has no doubt Misshiraz is going to measure up.

''I say she is nice filly and is going to be a lot better later on,'' he says. ''She'll go for a spell.''

Earlier Bastian explained he'd ''spent a couple hundred thousand dollars'' on the four thoroughbreds.

He still has about eight pacers to pay for but that game's proving tough. ''I was sick of winning and not getting any prizemoney,'' he said.

Misshiraz is the first galloper Bastian has got to the races.

''I came here last month and this filly finished second. I had $25 each way on it, picked up $600 - it was $101. Today I had $20 each way.''

Misshiraz started at $18 yesterday, with Bastian celebrating on all fronts.

That could not be said for those who backed debutant Snap Dragons from $2.40 in to $2.25 favourite. It tailed off, beaten some 29 lengths by Misshiraz.