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Mehegan hoping $10,000 call pays off
Michael Mehegan is hoping his last-minute decision to raise the reserve on a colt out of his smart mare Prussian Vixen begins to pay dividends when that first foal, King Ben, makes his debut in the $250,000 VOBIS Gold Rush (1000m) at Bendigo on Saturday.
The Mornington-based trainer sent Prussian Vixen to Darley stallion Impending when she retired in 2019 and King Ben was the result.
Mehegan took the colt to last year's Melbourne Inglis Premier Sale and the only reason he still has him was that call to increase his reserve by $10,000.
"He got passed in at $160,000 with a live bid of $150,000 on him. We lifted the reserve from $150,000 on the morning as I thought I was going to buy a horse for $150,000, so why not keep him?" Mehegan said.
Mehegan races King Ben with his partner Shannon Zibell and his parents, and he also sold shares to a number of loyal owners including George and Deb Benyon.
He believes the now gelding has shown some of the talent his mother possessed, leading him to set the galloper for $1 million race The Showdown on April 15 at Ladbrokes Park Sandown Lakeside.
He lost some time with King Ben when he was gelded as he suffered an infection and had to head to the paddock for a short time, but Mehegan has been happy with his two jumpouts at Mornington and then at Balnarring.
"He was perfect there as that's a track that can bring young horses undone," Mehegan said of King Ben's handling of a tight track in the 750-metre hit-out at Balnarring.
"I've given him a serious gallop since, leading into this, and he looks like he made significant improvement. It was with either Cranbourne and a tighter track or the open spaces of Bendigo, which will suit him better.
"You would think the raced ones would be too good and there's eight first starters, so he warrants his chance. It's a restricted race.
"I feel he's got some of his mum's ability. He's been a bit difficult to handle. Clay Beasy has been riding him in trackwork as he needs someone to take control of him. He can be a little bit difficult but he's a real professional going to the races."
As for Prussian Vixen, Mehegan remembers her career fondly.
