REJUVENATED galloper Iceconi is proving to be a bargain buy for Albury trainer Martin Stein and connections.
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Stein parted with $1200 to buy Iceconi just over 12 months ago and advertised shares to race the galloper as a syndicate.
For $150 a share, which included the first six weeks’ training fees, Stein had little trouble syndicating the horse to a large group of Border owners.
“I set her for a race on Melbourne Cup day two years ago at Corowa and she won by three lengths and ran a class record,” Stein said.
“Most of the owners are pensioners and it was a huge thrill for them to be able to win a race.”
Before joining the Stein stable, Iceconi had 17 starts for Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams for two wins.
The six-year-old mare has gone on to win a further four races for Stein as well as several placings.
Iceconi was an impressive winner at Albury earlier this month, prompting Stein to head to Moonee Valley last Friday night for her first city start.
The mare finished sixth of nine runners with Darren Gauci aboard and will be on the quick back-up at Albury tomorrow in the $15,000 Benchmark 60 Hcp (2000 metres).
“I thought her run at the Valley was full of merit,” he said.
“She sort of got left behind at the 600m mark when the sprint went on, but made up a stack of ground in the straight to be beaten just over five lengths.
“It basically gave me the confidence to set her for the Adrian Ledger Memorial at the Albury Gold Cup carnival.
“So she will go around tomorrow and I’m unsure if she will have another start before the Adrian Ledger.
“The owners just love the horse after winning four of 15 starts since we’ve had her.
“She has won over $50,000 in prizemoney now, which is not bad considering nobody wanted her and she only cost $1200.”