12 January 2023 , 19:31
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Mike Tindall could not hide his delight as his latest stint in Australia took its next turn.
The I'm A Celebrity star is watching his next business venture develop on the Gold Coast.
Accompanying his wife Zara Tindall on the trip, the 2003 Rugby World Cup winner with England is selling his young thoroughbreds there.
The future racehorses have been going through the ring at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, where they were sold for an average price of £154,000 earlier this week.
On Wednesday, Mike and Zara were all smiles at the festival location, enjoying a walk at Byron Bay before the former rugby international's horse went under the hammer.
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The couple spent Christmas at Sandringham and then returned to Australia, where Mike just failed to secure a spot in the I'm A Celebrity final.
"Great way to start the day! Little walk with the crew before heading back to @magicmillions sales to watch the last of our syndicate go inter the hammer!! Lot 458 Pierata colt by Talented Miss @widdenstud #magicmillions," he tweeted.
While overseas, the Tindalls have missed out on much of the drama surrounding the release of Prince Harry’s book, Spare.
Silver Olympic medallist Zara has enjoyed various equine disciplines at the festival, while her husband was keeping an eye on his reinvestment in racing.
Mike Tindall tweeted about selling his syndicate's final yearling thoroughbred in Australia on Wednesday (@mike_tindall12/Instagram)It all began in January 2010, when Mike spontaneously put a bid in for a horse while socialising with fellow rugby players James Simpson-Daniel and Nicky Robinson.
The trio and trainer Michael Scudamore lived the dream with the racer named Monbeg Dude.
He went on to win the 2012 Welsh National and score twice at Cheltenham, a racecourse Mike and Zara regularly attend.
But Monbeg Dude's biggest payday came when he finished third in the 2015 running of the Grand National at Aintree.
Mike Tindall and James Simpson-Daniel pictured with Monbeg Dude in 2014 (PA)The placing, his final race, earned Tindall and connections £105,500, adding to an overall career total of £260,000.
Mike previously told the Racing Post how he put some of the winnings back into the sport, producing yearlings in the Widden Valley, New South Wales.
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“We reinvested the money we won with Monbeg Dude,” he said in 2017..
“Hannah Wall and David Redvers set up the syndicate, they’d seen an opportunity to invest down here. We had a look at it and thought it was an interesting prospect so we took the plunge.”
The last colt to go through the ring is by Group 1 winner Pierata, who hit the heights in the 2019 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
In the world's best racehorse rankings for 2020, Pierata came in equal 80th.
But there is plenty of optimism for his new career, as breeders have praised the stallion's first crop of foals.
In one of his favourite sports outside of rugby, Mike and his friends could once again be onto a winner.