$400 Mare Wins Bendigo's Gold Bracelet

The Stylist (Swiss Ace-Veva Girl, by Fastnet Rock), who won Saturday's $125,000 Catanach's Jewelers Bendigo Gold Bracelet cost just $400 in an online auction, reports racing.com. "As a rule if we don't mind the breeding and the look of the horse that's a good start," trainer Deanne Taylor said. "We obviously watched the trial too and thought she was worth a go. The big trainers are pretty quick to sack a horse off a trial, so I guess we take on the misfits you could say. You expect them to come with some sort of issue when they are that cheap, whether it's physical or mental and then we just work on trying to overcome those, they aren't machines." The Stylist was originally sold as a yearling for $35,000, then ran sixth in a trial in 2017 as a 2YO. The online advertisement mentioned that she had a few attitude issues. "She couldn't go in a box or in the tie up stalls at the track, so it just takes patience," Taylor explained. "I am lucky I have big open yards, but even then she used to walk the fence. It wasn't until after a while she figured out she could eat the grass and be like the other horses. She still has a little trouble with boxes, the pony had to go in the swabbing box with her yesterday." The Stylist had her first start in April 2019 with Taylor as her trainer and the 5YO mare has now won four of her fourteen starts and prizemoney of $158,650. "That was my biggest winner, certainly prizemoney wise," Taylor said. "It will pay a few bills, we need a new shed and then keep the rest to feed the rest of the horses I think." The Stylist's pedigree has also improved markedly since her online sale, as she is now a half-sister to Gr3 winner De La Terre (Reliable Man) and Group 1-placed winner Aalaalune (Reliable Man).