Bookmaking royalty Michael Sullivan has always had a soft spot for a good filly, and he’s hoping he’s found another two heading into The Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
While his trade has long been taking bets, Sullivan enjoyed major success as an owner, winning the Australian Oaks with Serenade Rose 20 years ago and racing dual Group 1-winning sprinter Virage De Fortune, both later sold for more than $3 million as broodmares.
“I have always been a great believer in the residual value of mares, and we had a bit of luck early on,” Sullivan said. “If we got the same money these days, it would be more like $10 million each.”
“It’s just nice to have a couple of good fillies again.”
Sullivan will look to relive those glory days as part-owner of Adrian Knox Stakes winner Profoundly, the second favourite for Saturday’s Oaks, while also holding a share in unbeaten Percy Sykes Stakes favourite Satono Invader.
Now part of the Betr team, Sullivan won’t be focused on the book this weekend, with his attention firmly on his runners.
“I remember we did $500,000 when Serenade Rose won the VRC Oaks and the office was distraught, but I didn’t give a stuff because I had won the Oaks,” Sullivan said.
“If we [Betr] lose on the two races on the weekend and my fillies win them, it’ll be exactly the same. You don’t get the chance to win big races like this too often.”
“It’s one of my biggest days as an owner.”
A long-time supporter of Lee Freedman, who trained Serenade Rose, and John O’Shea, who sourced the fillies, Sullivan was delighted with Profoundly’s win last week and is hoping for rain to improve her chances.
“I had horses with Lee since he came back from Singapore and they have been a lot more expensive than her,” Sullivan said. “He rang last year and said he had a cheapie that he was going to race with Artie Mitchell, so I said yes straight away, and it turned out to be Profoundly, but Michael trains her.”
“She was always going to stay, and I thought she was very good last week.”
“I would love the race to be next Saturday, but I think she will get the trip and be hard to beat.”
Satono Invader is the latest in a long line of fillies sourced by John O’Shea that have provided strong returns, even if a true star has proven elusive.
Already a Stakes winner in Melbourne, she could deliver Tom Charlton his biggest victory in his own right, with O’Shea currently serving a ban.
“They tell me she is flying,” Sullivan said. “A touch of rain would be good for her as well because she hasn’t seen a dry track yet.”
“It could be a big day.”
