Earlier today the 28 lots for Friday’s Hong Kong International Sale (March) participated in the breeze-ups for the potential purchasers and media gathered at Sha Tin Racecourse. This is a particularly attractive group of horses and I have received many positive comments from our trainers who have either seen them in work or examined these potential horses for their stable.
Interestingly, some of our trainers have enjoyed particular success with Hong Kong International Sale graduates of the past. Three of our active veteran trainers have registered wins from at least 75 percent of the ISGs they have trained. Benno Yung has trained four ISG graduates and all four have won in his care, while Caspar Fownes is next at 79% (31 winners from 39) and David Ferraris after that at 75% (12 winners from 16).
14 of the lots at this year’s sale are from the European sales and 14 from Australasian purchases. Among the Europeans, we will offer a half-brother to the 2017 English Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Lot 17 – Holy Roman Emperor ex Ysoldina) as well as a full brother to former European champion sprinter Slade Power (Lot 15 – Dutch Art ex Girl Power). New Zealand’s champion stallion Savabeel has two lots out of the 14 from the southern hemisphere and both are related to Group 2 winners (Lot 4 – ex Forty Two Below, Lot 12 – ex Ocean Of Tears), while last year’s champion Austalian sire Snitzel sired two lots – Lot 18 out of Good Weekend who is a full-sister to former Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler and Lot 24 out of the stakes-placed mare Highland Daughter.
This is an exciting group for our permit holders and the first of two sales which will be conducted this year, the second forthcoming in June.
Of course, the top-rated HKIS graduate in training at present is Pakistan Star, with a local mark of 123 and more than HK$15.8 million in earnings from 12 starts following his HK$6 million purchase in 2016.
It will be fun to follow these purchases and I wish the bidders best of luck at Friday’s sale.
Next week also brings us the BMW Hong Kong Derby and the excitement is surely building. Following Tuesday’s trials which included six of the selected runners, Ping Hai Star had an easy, eye-catching trial over 1700m at Happy Valley on Friday. Earlier in the morning, our Hong Kong Classic Cup winner Singapore Sling galloped over the turf at Sha Tin in company with Group 3 winner Horse Of Fortune. I’ve watched both of the videos on our website and they each seemed to go quite well.
Tomorrow at Sha Tin is headlined by the Singapore Turf Club Trophy, a Class 1 handicap over 1200m of the C+3 course and goes as Race 7. In this race, the pace is projected to be good-to-fast with Peniaphobia, Wah May Friend and Fabulous One all likely to go towards the front with Not Listenin’tome and Magic Legend tracking. House Of Fun should be nearby and should get some cover, with Winner’s Way in midfield. Amazing Kids will be near the back with Born In China and Dundonnell, while Archippus should be trailing early.
Amazing Kids is the topweight at 133 pounds given his performances at top level and spots his competitors no less than five pounds. His quality runs against Mr Stunning, most recently beaten just three lengths in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint when fifth, are the top form in this race. He is working well, but given the handicap, is more of a place chance. Born In China was an easy winner of a Class 1 race at Happy Valley last time and carries eight pounds less in this race given the presence of Amazing Kids and Not Listenin’tome. I was very taken by his last effort and even though he has shown his best performances at Happy Valley, is one of the win and place chances for me.
House Of Fun is working well for trainer John Size and carries only 113 pounds. He is a three-time course and distance winner and should get a good trip just behind the speed. I see him as the main hope with the handicap in his favour.
Dundonnell has been better over 1400m, but earned a good win in the Chinese New Year Cup last time and holds place claims too.
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