Waikato thoroughbred breeder Philip (Pip) Brown's proudest day in racing was tempered yesterday by a cloud hanging over one of his starprogeny.
Brown rated El Segundo's dominant win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday as a career highlight, having bred him from good racemare PalosVerdes at Matamata's Ancroft Stud.
Meanwhile, at the Werribee Veterinary Clinic outside Melbourne, El Segundo's A$500,000 two-year-old brother was given only a 50:50 chance of surviving a major foot infection.
"When they say racing is a rollercoaster game, nothing explains it better than that," said Brown.
Brown had to cancel a trip to tend to four in-foal broodmares at Ancroft, and watched the race on television.
"It was a huge thrill," Brown said.
"Colin's [Little] been in touch all the way through and he kept saying he only wanted to win one race with him this year - the Cox Plate. Certainly for me, as a breeder, I don't think it gets much better than this."
Brown said Ancroft's previous best Cox Plate result was King Delamere's third to Red Anchor in 1984.
El Segundo's victory had a strong Waikato connection, with his sire Pins standing at Waikato Stud also in Matamata.
El Segundo, a six-year-old gelding, was bred by Brown and his late father, Bill, in partnership with the horse's part-owner Don Howell, Philip Murphy, Ian Hickey and his father William Hickey.
Little went to A$500,000 for a brother at this year's Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, but all was not well last week.
An infection in the colt's foot had spread to the joint, and reports in Melbourne on Saturday said his life was in danger.
Brown said the prognosis was only slightly more encouraging yesterday.
"It's still very serious," he said.
"Two days ago the vets wanted to put the horse down but we said, 'Save him.' He's better but it's still 50:50."
Another brother of El Segundo will be offered at next year's Sydney Easter sales, while Palos Verdes is in Australia, booked for a meeting with Encosta De Lago.
