IN the old days they would have called this a plot. Buy a horse, train him to win a nice race over the pond and then cash in on the sale.

It didn’t turn out quite as easy as that for York owner Andrew Bonarius, and his city-based Wildcard Racing syndicate, but, six months later than originally planned, Deerslayer finally got to have his day in the sun at one of America’s most prestigious meetings.

Back in December, The Press reported how the six-year-old, trained by Amy Weaver at Newmarket, had been shipped to the States – with the $65,000 Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct, in New York, as his aim.

But his race was over before it even began.

“It was all set up. He was going to run in that handicap and then be sold but it didn’t come off,” said Bonarius.

“He was being ridden by Michael Luzzi and he got rid of him on the way down to post. He ran through a fence on the far side and then ran through the tractor shed.

“He damaged his front leg and he was quite badly bruised. There was a bit of concern about whether he would pull through.

“To be honest, he nearly died that day and there was a 50/50 chance that they were going to put him down at one point.

“If we had taken a little weedy horse out there I don’t think we would have seen him again but Deerslayer is built like a shirehorse. He hadn’t broken anything but the vets were a bit unsure about whether there were any problems internally and with his ribs.

“It took about five or six weeks before we were able to get him back on the racecourse.”

Having won six times in 15 starts in Britain, the £10,000 bargain basement buy returned successfully to the track and, after narrowly being touched off for victory in a photo finish, Deerslayer’s American trainer, Rudy Rodriguez, found the race that Bonarius was looking for – a claimer staged just after the prestigious US Triple Crown Belmont Stakes at the famous New York racecourse.

“It was race 12, immediately following the Belmont,” added Bonarius. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there. We have a little one on the way but I watched it at home at 12.20am.

“It was fantastic and, when you put a plan together, great to run on that sort of day. It’s the same sort of prestige as running on Derby day here.”

Deerslayer, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, saw off Tazered to win the six furlong contest and scoop a shade more than $22,000.

He was subsequently claimed by the potential purchaser who had wanted to snap him up six months earlier at Aqueduct.

Bonarius said: “We picked up just over $20,000 for winning the race and the guy who originally wanted to buy him claimed him for $20,000. Not bad for a claimer. In total he ran five times for us and won just short of £30,000, plus $20,000 to claim him.

“It was great that the plan eventually came off.

“For a club of our size, it was a massive big deal. The prize money was a big incentive. We paid £10,000 for him and it cost £6,000 to take him out there. To get the same over here you have to win a good quality race.”

And plans are already been drawn up for a repeat expedition.

“We have a list of horses we want,” Bonarius added.

“We have been in talks with Amy and we want to send up to three over there. We want to put a package together where people can buy into the trio of horses, they run, win and then get claimed.

“Rudy is very keen to get an English horse over there, run him and get claimed.

“Deerslayer never won a handicap in England, every race he won was a claimer and he was rated in the 80s. But he earned more in two races in America than he did in Britain in his whole career.

“It’s just the way they do things over there.

“We have proven we can do it and we are keen to have another go.”

For more information about Wildcard Racing, which has horses with Malton trainer Richard Fahey and Hambleton’s Kevin Ryan among others, then log on to www.wildcardracing.co.uk or email andrew.bonarius@btinternet.com.