AFL star Jack Gunston has splashed the cash on Sunday, adding to his keen interest in racing.
The 283-game veteran is a Hawthorn legend but also a keen racing fan, buying up at the Inglis Sales in Melbourne on Sunday.
He owns several horses with Hawks teammates, including Will Day and Dylan Moore, plus retired Hawks Jarryd Roughead and Luke Bruest.
Gunston raised his hand to successfully bid $50,000 for a 2-year-old filly on Sunday.
The filly is a half-sister to Calamari Ring, who won the Inglis Banner as a 2-year-old, beating eventual Blue Diamond winner Streisand.
‘’I think she was just a nice possible 2-year- old,’’ Gunston said of his new filly.
‘’I think she’s filled out really nicely and obviously, being a half to Calamari Ring, hopefully Calamari keeps kicking and we can have some fun with this filly.’’
Gunston said the filly hadn’t been assigned a trainer as he eyes off at least one more purchase at the Inglis Premier sale this week.
‘’ My other half, the business partner he’s not here, so that’s probably why I ended up buying it,’’ Gunston said.
‘’ He normally locks my hands down, now once he gets here, I’ll let him know the good news.
‘’I think over the next couple of days, there’s some really nice horses here. And we’ve got a couple other people that have similar interests to what we want to do.
‘’So we’re off to a good start, and we’ll see how we go over the next little period.’’
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Gunston’s has already experienced the ultimate thrill as an owner, winning the Australian Oaks with El Patroness.
His father, Ray, was a well-known AFL executive before passing away. Ray too was a keen racing man, owning Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
Jack was wearing the mare’s cap on Sunday.
Jack had previously reminisced his father’s Golden Slipper win.
“I just told him, ‘If Fireburn wins, it’s your one opportunity … you own 60 per cent, just lead the horse in’,” he said.
“I think that was my happiest moment, seeing Dad walk in, barge his way through, and lead the horse in. There’s a photo of him high-fiving (jockey) Brenton Avdulla, and it’s one of my favourite photos.”
