By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Buoyed by the success of their first purchase, the Southland-based Broke Boys syndicate are doubling down.
The group of 20 and 30-somethings started out with the very handy Ah Dinnae Ken and have more recently acquired a second trotter in Massive Merc.
“With Ah Dinnae Ken we had a bit of money in the kitty so we thought we’d go again,” says syndicate spokesman Rory McCall, a sheep farmer from Gore (pictured above, third from right).
McCall had previously raced some good performers with Wyndham trainer Craig Ferguson – “we’ve been mates right through school” – including No More Change (7 wins) and Havinaravup (4 wins).
Then last year he thought it would be a good idea to get a syndicate together.
“I messaged a few of the guys and got the big thumbs up.”
“There are 14 of us in it – we’ll all in our late 20s – mid 30s. There are sheep farmers, builders, stock agents and shearers and whatnot.”
“About half of them are completely new to racing and never had a horse before and I’d say the other half have had one or two.”
Ferguson acquired Ah Dinnae Ken, which means “I don’t know” in Scottish, from fellow Southlander, Edendale trainer Alex Milne.
The horse won fresh up last November and has now won three from 11 starts for Ferguson, with stakes of around $30,000.
With the Broke Boys relatively flush – “I wouldn’t say we are making too much” – they’ve decided to go back to the well.
Ferguson was again given the brief to get a horse that was “ready to run”.
“We wanted one was that good to go now rather than buying a yearling that would take two years to start racing,” says McCall.
“It’s all about getting there and watching it race.”
They, along with Daryl Olphert, purchased Massive Merc from Ashburton trainer Alan Clark a couple of months ago. So far he’s had 29 starts with his solitary win coming at Addington last October.
“They (the syndicate members) are dead keen to get the new one into work and racing as well,” says McCall.
“He’s spelling in Canterbury at the moment and Craig will get him in the next week or so and then put him into work with the hope of racing him at the end of September.”
