Predetermined pictured during the Inglis breeze-ups (Image: Inglis)
Predetermined being entered for a $500,000 race on Saturday was not the only reason Mark Pilkington and Seymour Bloodstock bought into the colt earlier this week, but the interest in him since suggests it was a smart play.
Pilkington has fielded numerous calls ever since he struck a deal with Baystone Farm and Troy Corstens after the son of Headwater was passed in at Tuesday's Inglis Ready To Race Sale.
That offering was conducted four days before the 1000-metre Inglis Banner at The Valley, for which he was nominated, and Pilkington's decision to ask the question has been vindicated by the interest since.
"I've had four or five people ring me and ask if they could get in the horse, bemoaning the fact they didn't take up the opportunity," Pilkington said.
Dean Harvey of Baystone Farm and Flemington Bloodstock, who paid $60,000 for Predetermined at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale earlier this year, cut a deal with Pilkington that valued Predetermined at $200,000.
He was one of two horses at Tuesday's sale that was nominated for the Inglis Banner, which is restricted to graduates of the Inglis sales circuit.
Lot 148, a son of Sebring and Totally Sure in the care of Frankie Stockdale, was passed in after failing to reach his reserve of $150,000.
Predetermined will recoup his purchase price if he wins on Saturday and while Pilkington said it was great to have that opportunity at their disposal, the colt was bought with a long-term view.
"I know Troy and Dean had a good opinion of the horse, I'd heard that he'd jumped out very well and beat a subsequent winner - that horse of Gai's that won on Saturday (Butter Blonde) - and they had high expectations for him at the sale, but unfortunately they didn't meet them," Pilkington said.
"On the back of that, I phoned up Dean and said, 'We'll give you X and we'll buy into 50 or 60 per cent of the horse'. He thought I was being a bit miserable and a bit tight, but I said, 'At the end of the day, we're happy to support you and Troy and back your opinions'.
"He looks a bloody nice type, he moves super, and then with a bit of background knowledge and a leap of faith in trusting some quality horsemen, that all added together to say why wouldn't we have a go."
WATCH: Predetermined's Flemington jumpout (black, pink logo, black cap)
Predetermined is a $7.50 chance in Sportsbet's market on the Inglis Banner, which is the second race on The Valley card.
Favourite, at $5.50, is the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Sneaky Five, a daughter of Fastnet Rock and Australasian Oaks winner Small Minds, who sold for $305,000 at this year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.