HARVEY’S $600 “GEM” READY FOR A CRACK IN TOWN
SHE cost only $600 online earlier this year and has already earned just over $50,000.
Little wonder Wyong trainer Shaun Harvey reckons Gemtiki deserves her chance to earn bigger riches in town – either at Royal Randwick’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap fixture on Saturday, or Monday’s Warwick Farm public holiday meeting.
Reece Jones will ride the five-year-old mare if she tackles the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1800m) at Randwick, whilst Jean Van Overmeire has the mount if she waits for a 2110m Benchmark 72 Handicap, which has drawn only seven acceptors, at Warwick Farm.
Irrespective, 37-year-old Harvey will have at least his first Saturday runner on a major metropolitan program.
He will definitely run debutante I’m Admired (Jones) in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) for two-year-old fillies.
Gemtiki, a daughter of Almanzor, had raced only five times for a debut Newcastle 1250m placing last November when Harvey picked her up for such a meagre amount through Inglis Digital in May.
“I liked her breeding and she was cheap,” Harvey said today.
“I like the challenge of getting tried horses, and trying to give them a new lease of life.
“Gemtiki is really tough and very consistent.
GEMTIKI WINNING AT MUSWELLBROOK
“This is her 10th start for me and, apart from her two wins (both at Muswellbrook over 1750m) and three minor placings, she hasn’t finished further back than fifth.
“She doesn’t gallop hard between races, thrives on electrolytes and bounces out of her races well.
“Gemtiki is ready to have a crack at a metropolitan race.
“The big track at Randwick and 1800m suit the mare, but it’s a smaller field at Warwick Farm.
“I’ll chat with my other owners and make a decision which way to go.”
Whereas Gemtiki was a $600 “cheapie”, I’m Admired cost a bit more.
Harvey and former jockey Lauren Van Tijn bought the Admire Mars filly for $24,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale earlier this year.
I'M ADMIRED
“Lauren helps me buy some horses, and we both liked this filly,” he said.
“I’m Admired is raced by a ladies’ syndicate, and I’m hoping to get her to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast in January.
“There is a $500,000 bonus for each of the first four horses all female owned or leased in finishing order.”
I’m Admired finished fourth to Runaway Diva (a rival on Saturday) in an 850m heat for fillies at the official two-year-old trials at the Kensington track on September 21.
“She was a bit green in the trial, but has taken benefit from that and her work since has been good,” Harvey said.
“Obviously we have to earn sufficient prizemoney with her to secure a start in the $3m MM 2YO Classic, but that’s ouraim.”
Harvey’s first winner was Buckin’ Rippa at the Walcha Cup carnival in February 2024.
He has eight boxes at Wyong and they are all filled, and his only previous Randwick runner was Invasive Dreams.
She was a $101 bolter in a strong Filante Handicap (1600m), and belied her odds with a gutsy fifth to Fortune (Goulburn Cup winner Ruby Flyer was runner-up) on October 25 last year.
I’m Admired won’t be Wyong’s only representative in the Gimcrack, the opening two-year-old fillies’ feature of the new season.
Sara Ryan has Farnans Sweetheart (Alysha Collett), who fetched $60,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale in Februaryfor Vardy Thoroughbreds and Sara Ryan Racing. .
The daughter of Golden Slipper winner Farnan has a real rugby league flavour in her ownership. North Queensland Cowboys’ Reed Mahoney and former Cowboy Scott Drinkwater (who joins the St George Illawarra Dragons next season) are part-owners.
“They’re both really good guys that love the horses, and a ‘Vardy Party’,” Vardy boss Steve Vardy said.
Farnans Sweetheart also contested an 850m heat at the Kensington trials, and finished fifth to She’s Supreme (also a Gimcrack rival).
ST0RY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 1, 1016 - PICS SUPPLIED & BRADLEY PHOTOS
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