Success in the thoroughbred industry comes at a cost. Shoe leather for instance.
Jamie Walter, complete with catalogue and pith helmet, is a familiar sight at sales complexes throughout Australia and usually first on ground. So much so, you’re often left to wonder if he opens the gates.
Walter is a study in concentration and would inspect close to every horse at a given sale, covering a lot of km’s in the process.
It paid off for him big time though at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale where he inspected the Widden Stud draft, in particular the Choisir colt from Colourful Moments.
The youngster was eventually knocked down to Walter for just $40,000: one of only two purchases from the thousand or so he’d inspected on the Gold Coast that week.
Syndicating the colt to his Proven Thoroughbred clients, the colt was named Sir Moments and placed with Eagle Farm trainer, Steven O’Dea.
Twenty five starts later, Sir Moments has ‘won’ back his $40,000 plus a further $700,000 from nine wins and five placings, including victories in the Group Two Queensland Guineas, Daybreak Lover, Dalrello, The Phoenix and Tails.
The horse made it five at black type level with a welcome, albeit unexpected victory in Saturday’s Listed Coastline BMW Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) on the Sunshine Coast.
This was Sir Moments first win since April 2016, but keen observers would have noticed his previous outing when he ran ninth in the Magic Millions Cup, just 1.4 lengths off the heels of the winner.
“He (Sir Moments) is such an old warrior,” Walter points out, “That win on Saturday was so pleasing for the owners. He’s the most successful horse Proven Thoroughbreds has ever raced, but he’s had his ups and downs as well: he injured a hind leg on the walking machine two days out from the Doomben Cup, another time he got a lung infection, then he suffered a quarter crack in his hoof last autumn and, unfortunately, raced like a busted backside in Melbourne.
“All is forgiven after Saturday though!”
Brother of the late and great trainer, Guy Walter, Jamie was – in a former life – a radio announcer in Sydney before heading to the United States and England where he worked for leading trainers.
The first horse Walter purchased – for $900 at an Inglis Sale – was called Docalter and would go on to win seven races, including three in town.
Walter has had a lot of horses since then (he purchases around 20 each year), but the passion has never dimmed.
And he’s not punning around when he says, you live for Moments like these!
Coolmore Australia got caught up in the Moments too and Sales and Nominations’ Paddy Oman was quick to add: “Sir Moments is the 11th of Choisir’s progeny to break through the $800,000 mark in earnings, which is a fantastic achievement.
“Sir Moments is a typical Choisir in that he just loves racing and has been very consistent, winning stakes races at two, three, four and six years. And the way he won on Saturday, he looks to have plenty more wins left in him.
“Choisir is having another fantastic season and along with established stars like Divine Prophet and Defcon, his daughter Zenalicious is due back at the races shortly with some Group One targets, as is Japonisme. Should be an exciting autumn.”
