Whether it turns out to be the right call or not, Alicia MacPherson is excited that connections have turned down rising offers to purchase her emerging sprinter You’re Two Vain, who will look to remain undefeated at Ballarat on Saturday.
The son of Magnus has won his first four starts, with each win as impressive as the last.
MacPherson’s phone was ringing with a fresh offer after the gelding’s most recent victory at Caulfield and, while there’s been temptation at times to cash in, the horse remains the pride of her boutique family-run stable.
“When he had his second jump-out, I knew they’d be calling about him,” MacPherson said.
“We had an offer before we even raced him and they haven’t stopped since.”
“Even when he won at Caulfield, I was just out of the horse car park and the phone was ringing.”
“One day I did go home to my partner and said that we should sell him and he offered to buy my share out to keep racing him so we haven’t sold him.”
“Most of the other owners have small shares and most of them have raced a lot of other horses so they know how it all works and they’ve been adamant about not selling him and keeping him to race.”
“I know he’s got ability but I also know that anything can happen with horses.”
“I try not to think about it too much and just try to prepare the horse as usual.”
MacPherson’s father paid $15,000 for You’re Two Vain as a weanling after being tipped off to the youngster’s presence in an online sale by bloodstock agent David O’Callaghan.
A physical standout with a unique pedigree, including the blood of champion sprinter Vain on both sides of his family, the young colt attracted interest from several other parties.
But the MacPhersons placed the winning bid and she was happy they did once the youngster stepped off the truck at their Kilmore base.
“My father bought him as a weanling,” she said.
“A friend of my father, David O’Callaghan, is a bloodstock agent and he knew that the horse was coming up for sale.”
“He was going to buy him and pinhook him but his circumstances changed so he told Dad to buy him.”
“We didn’t really look at him, Dad just jumped online and bought him for $15,000.”
“He’s an impressive type and when he arrived the first impression was that he was a big, strong, hypey sort of horse.”
“He’s got the double cross to Vain so I’m not sure if that’s what attracted a few others to him.”
After wins at Seymour, Kilmore, Corowa and then Caulfield, You’re Two Vain faces his sternest test in Saturday’s BM74 Handicap at Ballarat, and punters are confident he can handle the rise in grade, backing him into a clear $3.60 favourite with Bet365.
For MacPherson, whose tally of winners is nearing 250, he shapes as the best horse she’s put a saddle on.
In time, a maiden Stakes win would be vindication for turning down the offers to sell the horse.
“He’s always been a horse that has shown us nice ability but we’ve just tried to take small steps with him and teach him while he races through the grades,” she said.
“Hopefully that approach gives him the best chance to step up to the tougher grade that he’s obviously starting to get into now.”
“He’s looking like he’s possibly the best horse we’ve ever had so hopefully he can keep going.”
