The 1997 Cox Plate was no joy for punters with the 40-1 winner, Dane Ripper, forcing a passage through half way up the straight, between the running rail and the 11-8 favourite, Filante.

There was little to celebrate for punters, but the bookies didn’t complain, it was drinks all round, the race was a skinner for them.

The following year Dane Ripper was acclaimed Champion race mare in 1998, with four Group 1’s to her credit, 12 wins and $3,151,833 in the bank.

Now rising 20 years of age she cut a lonely figure when paraded in the Inglis Sydney sale ring last week, being purchased for $50,000.

Maybe it was a sentimental bid, surely not an investment, she has had just six foals for three minor winners, she has produced two foals to High Chaparral in the last two breeding seasons, but failed to get in foal to him in 2012.

Written Tycoon, after a season in Queensland, is returning to Victoria where he will stand at Woodside Park Tylden.

A sale believed to be in the vicinity of $3 million was paid for the handsome son of Iglesia, he was never far away in those major sprint races, winning the Group 2 Todman Slipper Stakes at Rosehill.

He has a proven sprinting sire line in Iglesia, a prominent source of winners by Last Tycoon, a brilliant horse himself winning eight of his 13 starts, with five of those wins at Group level.

His dam, Party Miss, by Kenmare, was more than handy as a race mare; she won four times, leaving six foals to race, with five winners.

She was from Miss Entertainer by Vain, thus a half sister to Anthems, Yell, Sung and Verse whilst she was unraced she produced Lamasery.

Written Tycoon