News

No regrets from the breeder who sold the world's best horse

5th Apr 2011

Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Roots - Tuesday, 5 April 2011

RICK JAMIESON had the golden ticket - and sold it for $200,000. But the man who bred and sold Black Caviar is not worried his name is no longer on the ownership papers of the world champion, whose unbeaten record will go on the line in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. He knows he has the means of printing more tickets, back at his farm, in the form of Black Caviar's dam, Helsinge.

''I actually wanted to keep her [Black Caviar] but I was a bit worried about her front legs,'' Jamieson told the Herald yesterday. ''They weren't quite as correct as you would like them to be and that was the only reason I sold.''

Since Jamieson made that fateful decision Black Caviar, last week rated the best horse on the planet, has made light of her conformation by winning her first 11 starts and dominating group 1 sprints in her past four outings.

Advertisement: Story continues below The legs on a hulking galloper such as Black Caviar can take a tremendous pounding and back then Jamieson figured the $200,000 looked a lot better in his bank account rather than invested in an imperfect horse in his stable. ''Since selling, I have been so happy for the owners,'' he said. ''They put their neck out and took the risk and good luck to them. I got a great price and I have not had one day that I have regretted it. But still I panic every time Black Caviar steps out, probably more than the owners.''

Jamieson, who has 20 mares, refers to himself as ''a hobby breeder''. His main business is hiring out marquees for major sporting events in Melbourne, where he is known as Harry the Hirer.

''It is a bit of a distraction from my business,'' Jamieson said of the breeding game. ''You need a bit of good luck - and I have had it.''

An example would be how Jamieson came to own Helsinge. A couple of years ago, after travelling to Sydney looking for a broodmare, he was about to head home disappointed. Until his bloodstock agent, Peter Ford, phoned him.

Ford takes up the story: ''I said to him, 'I'm buying you a horse'. She was [an] unraced, unnamed two-year-old but I liked the horse and he liked the family when he looked at it. We sit back now and say together we have produced a world champion.''

Jamieson still has Helsinge, whose latest offspring, a colt by first-season stallion Casino Prince, will walk into the Inglis Sales ring as lot 277 at Newmarket tomorrow.

''That was another of my crazy schemes [using a rookie sire],'' Jamieson said as the yearling walked for another prospective buyer yesterday. ''He [the colt] hasn't stopped coming in and out, which is a good sign. I honestly don't know [what he will bring]. I have been all over the place with reserves, but he will definitely be sold.''

Another thing's for sure - the price will be more than it was for Black Caviar. And there could be a dynasty to follow, with a Redoute's Choice filly already back at Jamieson's farm and Helsinge in foal to the champion stallion again.

''I think she will go out to Bel Esprit [Black Caviar's sire] next year,'' Jamieson said. ''It seemed to worked well. I'll probably keep the fillies from now on and sell the colts.''