Harry Redknapp is celebrating a windfall from a racehorse sale after a big offer was accepted for a winning two-year-old he part-owned.
As a football manager the former Spurs and West Ham boss loved a transfer and he is over the moon at the deal completed for Knockhill who will continue his career in Hong Kong.
Knockhill cost 44,000gns at a breeze-up sale in April but after winning on debut at Sandown in August he has been moved on for a sum believed to be well in excess of six figures.
“It’s fantastic,” said Redknapp. “It’s the first time I’ve got a few quid selling a horse. At the end of the day you couldn’t keep him when you’re offered money like that.”
Redknapp, 75, has long been an avid racing enthusiast and has owned horses for a number of years His best horse on the Flat has been winning handicapper Moktasaab while his jumps horses include Shakem Up’Arry, a winner over fences earlier this month.
Knockhill ran in the colours of Orbital Racing, a new syndicate launched this year by jockey John Egan’s partner Eimear Donnelly and Jack Nunn, grandson of the late Michael Jarvis. Redkhapp is the group’s ambassador.
After riding the colt to a 33-1 victory for trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy at Sandown in August, Egan described Knockhill as one of the best juveniles he had ridden who had the potential to develop into a Classic hope for Redknapp.
“We bought Knockhill for the syndicate and Harry took a percentage too so he is delighted with this sale as it’s the first time he got a return from a racehorse,” said Egan. “It was sold for a substantial amount and Harry is over the moon.
“When you get a substantial offer like there was for Knockhill you couldn’t refuse it, no matter who you are, I put it to them and all parties agreed to sell
“Orbital has a good few members now and will be buying more horses at the breeze-ups next year and hopefully can do something like this again.”
