Racing: Traders step up

By MIKE DILLON

The Honor Babe camp had plenty to think about going into Saturday's big win, dealing with countless offers to buy, or lease, the mare.

"The owners were offered $400,000 straight after she won the Marton Cup in January, but that was dismissed pretty quickly," said Simon Alexander, husband of trainer Katrina Alexander.

"Then Gai Waterhouse offered $500,000, then $700,000, but it was still no go."

Leading Singapore trainer Malcolm Thwaites then offered $900,000 net to the owners and that was also refused.

"I can't guarantee this because I'm not one of the owners, but I think at that point they would have sold for $1m net to them."

After Honor Babe finished a gallant second in the Chairman's Handicap in her Sydney Cup lead-up, Gai Waterhouse offered $450,000 for a half share, but no business was done.

"There was a lease deal presented after that, but that was never going to be a runner."

"The whole thing was quite stressful for a while."

Honor Babe is owned by a syndicate of four headed by Dannevirke veterinarian Amy Ingram. Her partners are Geoff Rothwell, Pete Smith and Wyndham Edwards.

Ingram bought Honor Babe as a weanling, got virtually no bids on her at the yearling sales and syndicated her for $10,000.