Crossover heading from Lindsay Park to Hong Kong after offer too good to refuse

“He missed the Guineas with a foot and the syndicate group, I think they were a bit divided by at the price, they decided to sell.

“Some wanted to sell and some didn’t but when you’ve got a syndicate with a lot of numbers, you put it to a vote and the vote was in favour to sell, which I would hate to be training against him in Hong Kong.”

A source familiar with the details of the sale told The Age and the Herald the sale price was $1.6 million.

Crosshaven’s transfer overseas is subject to a Hong Kong vet examination, scheduled to be done by the end of this week.

“As a four-year-old, I think he would have been a good Toorak horse and Emirates [Stakes], those sorts of races,” Hayes said.

“But it wasn’t guaranteed. Carbine winners, some years they train on, some years they don’t. But I know the horse, I used to train him, and I had no hesitation trying to buy him when I knew there was a chance he could have been bought.

“I don’t have any horses in my stable at the upper class at the moment so he’ll be a welcomed addition.”

Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said it was a touch disappointing Crosshaven was leaving his stable.

“It’s sad that he’s going, for selfish reasons, but it’s been a good result financially for the owners,” he said.

“They’ve had some good success with the horse and done well out of him financially, so hopefully he can continue and be successful there. I’m sure he will be.”

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Meanwhile Dabernig said Aysar, who disappointed in Saturday’s Australian Guineas, would be given another opportunity in the spring as a colt.

“I thought the inside barrier might suit him because I thought he might get cover and relax but being a colt he resented horses on his outside and he half wanted to charge and just did it a bit upside down,” Dabernig said.

“He’ll probably be backed off now and we’ll probably train him as a shorter course horse, 1200 to 1400 [metres].

“The horse has never really been out of work so I think now is a good opportunity to give him a bit of a break and train him for the early spring.”

Dabernig said a race like the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes might be ideal for Aysar as a spring four-year-old.