At last year’s Equimillion, bloodstock agent Satomi Oka and her long time friend and racehorse owner Jane Petrie came along to watch me have a roll around the Olympic arena at SIEC on my off the track jumper and 12 months down the track the pair have combined forces to sponsor a rider for this year’s event.
“Equimillion is an exciting event that celebrates and promotes the second careers of retired racehorses,” said Satomi Oka.
“I’m lucky enough to have a job dealing with horses and supporting this young rider is a small gesture from me to give back and contributing to their well-being beyond their racing careers.
“When Tara showed me Mara’s email seeking a sponsor, I was very impressed by her passion and also her professional demeanour. She also shared her pledge to support other people including donating to Multiple Sclerosis Australia.”
Satomi has made a successful bloodstock career inspired by a love of horses and she continues to ride regularly.
“I wish I could compete, but I don’t have the time to practice and most importantly I’m not fit enough! It’s a wonderful feeling to have Mara continuing my dream, and I’m thrilled to sponsor such a dedicated young rider while I’m supporting a great event.”
“As racehorse owners we are happy to pay training fees in expectation that our horses are being well cared for, educated and conditioned to perform as racehorses over a significant period of time and if they are fast enough there will be a monetary return on investment,” said Jane Petrie.
“It’s not lost on me that a similar level of care and attention goes into retraining racehorses for competitive equestrian pursuits, however for these people there is very little monetary return for their time and effort.
“They do it for love of the horse and out of a passion for their sport, so if I can sponsor a rider into Equimillion where they have the chance to compete for serious prizemoney I’m more than happy to help out.”
Satomi and Jane will be sponsoring 15 year-old rider Mara McGavern, who is in Year 9 at St.Philip’s Christian College in Newcastle on an Elite Athlete scholarship as apart from her horse activities she’s a gifted athlete that competes in the long jump at a national level.
Mara came up through the Pony Club ranks riding a gun pony called Twix, but has now graduated on to bigger horses which has led her to a pair of off the track thoroughbreds that she will be riding at Equimillion in both eventing and showjumping.
Araluen Bella was unnamed on the Australian Studbook, but was bred in the Hunter Valley and sired by Group I winner Danasinga. The 14 year-old mare, who goes by the stable name of Friday, has formed a great partnership with Mara and the pair will represent NSW at the upcoming Australian National Interschools Championship at Tamworth in September.
Mara will also be riding 10 year-old Exceed and Excel gelding Found Out, who won two races in a 29 start career that earned his owners over $80,000 in prizemoney.
If you have any interest in sponsoring a rider for Equimillion do send us an email at media@breednet.com.au
