EMILE Panossian is tempting fate.
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The West Australian businessman has made the trek east to watch Niblick in his bid to go back-to-back in the Albury cup.
Panossian commissioned Brett Cavanough to buy him a horse to win the Railway Stakes.
The Albury trainer found Niblick at a Lloyd Williams dispersal sale, and despite finishing unplaced in WA’s group 1 classic he left the horse on the Border.
“Last year I didn’t bother to come over for the National Sprint at Canberra and he won there and so I didn’t want to put the mock on him in the Albury Gold Cup,” Panossian said.
“But this year I wanted to be here.
“His run in Canberra wasn’t great but the rain and wet track make things different and hopefully I can lead him back into the winner’s stall.”
Panossian’s relationship with Cavanough stretches back several years.
“I bought four horses at the Inglis yearling sales and was looking for someone to break them in,” he said.
“And it turns out some people in Sydney recommended Brett and so I phoned him up and we’ve been friends ever since.
“But I wanted to buy a horse for the Railway Stakes back home in Perth and asked Brett to go to the Lloyd Williams sale and have a look at a few and come back to me with the one I should buy.
“He chose Niblick and I said I’ve got $150,000. He spent $200,000.
“But he’s a great trainer and a really good bloke.”