Cover image courtesy of Tattersalls
The Melbourne-based Player’s International Thoroughbred Solutions purchased Restitution (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) from the draft of Jamie Railton for 150,000 gns (AU$288,225), the second-highest price of the day, for an undisclosed Australian client.
Richards acted as the eyes and ears on the auction ground and was in contact with Player by phone to land the final bidding blow for the gelding, who followed up a debut third for trainer John Gosden to win over 2300 metres next time out in April.
“He is a lovely type, a big, strong horse by a sire that can do no wrong at the moment and one we all have great regard for,” Player said. “This horse is progressive who we know can stay and has a really great profile for Australia.
"This horse (Restitution) is progressive who we know can stay and has a really great profile for Australia." - Mark Player
“We had a three-way hook-up on the phone with the main owner and Mark. We were comfortable at that level and it was the sort of money we thought the horse would make.
“Auctions are dynamic and that was where we valued him. There was lively bidding and we’re very happy to have him.”
Lot 436 - Restitution (Fr)
Hong Kong connection
Player served for a period as the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Head of International Races, Sale and Development while Richards, a former National Hunt jockey, worked for the Club in a variety of roles for 20 years.
“Mark and I worked together for a long time and are very strong friends. He is back in England and when I can’t see the horses, I short list some and he looks at others and he can send videos and photos back,” Player said.
“I forward those to key clients and we do the due diligence and find out everything we can. We have a ratings guy we use to review race replays and then it’s a matter of securing the horse.
“It’s a good result of teamwork and it’s come full circle with Mark being the representative of Goffs in the UK and myself in Australasia.
“We’ve gone from the Jockey Club in Hong Kong to Goffs the pair of us, so there's a nice little segway there as well.”
“We’ve gone from the Jockey Club in Hong Kong to Goffs the pair of us, so there's a nice little segway there as well.” – Mark Player
An Australian stable for Restitution, who will be on the first available flight Down Under, has yet to be confirmed.
“We’ll go through the process of selecting the trainer we think will suit the horse best and that’s a very important part of it. He will continue to be exercised until he comes here and is the sort of horse that will be able to acclimatise fairly quickly,” Player said.
“He will get into the system and there will be plenty of races and options for him. He’s lowly enough rated that we can work him through the grades and hopefully we’ve unearthed that diamond in the rough.”
Robert Roulston, Mark Player and Peter Carrick at Magic Millions this year | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
First-hand experience of the great Frankel (GB) was just another attraction for Player to Restitution.
“He was just an outstanding racehorse and I was lucky enough to see him win at two, three and four years of age in England. To see what he is doing at stud is wonderful for the entire industry and long may it continue,” Player said.
