New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Cambridge Stud have combined to donate a
framed photo of Sir Patrick Hogan with his champion sire Zabeel, taken by world
renowned photographer Spiros Poros, along with a gold plated horseshoe worn by
the legendary sire who passed away in late 2015.The package is currently being auctioned online on New Zealand Bloodstock subsidiary gavelhouse.com with bidding set to close from 7pm on Monday 6 February.
Diagnosed with stage three melanoma on Daffodil Day 2014, while in his last year at Napier Boys High School, Jackson Alexander has undergone a series of treatments that have unfortunately been unable to stifle the disease.
Jackson's mother Katrina, who had considerable success as a trainer with Honor Babe's 2003 Sydney Cup win an obvious highlight, called time on her training business shortly after the diagnosis to focus on her son's health.
With the cancer progressing to stage four last year, Jackson was struck another blow, having a brain tumour removed on Labour Weekend only to find another one growing shortly after.
"We're on the periphery of things in the racing industry really, especially now Katrina's stopped training, so to get the support of big businesses like New Zealand Bloodstock, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing and Sir Patrick Hogan is very humbling," commented Jackson's father Simon.
"The drug we're fundraising for to hopefully reduce the size of the tumour and keep him more comfortable isn't cheap at $18,000 a month."
"We've received donations from people that we've never met in racing while Bradbury Park's Michelle and Casey Dando are going to donate some of the proceeds from one of their horses at Karaka this week."
Having learned of Jackson's plight at Christmas, the Dando's wanted to find a way they could contribute.
"You just have to imagine if it was one of your own children, nobody deserves to go through that," Casey Dando commented.
"While we didn't have much spare cash to donate we decided to donate 10% of the proceeds from Lot 1116 to at least contribute something."
A son of Melbourne Cup winning sire Shocking, the colt will be sold at Karaka on Sunday in the Festival Sale.
"He's a strong, nice bodied horse and is well balanced so I hope people see the same attributes we do in him and don't hold back with their bidding."
A facebook page named 'Save Jooky' has been established with information on how to donate to help Jackson's cause.
Click here to view the gavelhouse.com auction and for more information on bidding contact Haylie Martin +64226378127.
