A total of 20 two-year-olds in training, acquired at sales venues from the
United States, Europe and Australasia, is set to go under the hammer Saturday
morning at the Hong Kong International Sale, to be held in the parade ring at
Sha Tin Racecourse. During last year’s event, 30 horses were sold for gross
receipts of HK$87.2 million (about $11.2 million), but this year’s offering has
been reduced by about 50 percent over last year.
“Numerically, (this) will not be the biggest sale we have ever had because we
are focusing on quality, and we have 20 very carefully selected individuals with
conformation and pedigrees geared to Hong Kong,” commented Mark Player, head of
International Races, sale and development for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “We
feel we have zoned in on the right individuals and it has been reflected with
their presentation.”
Previous graduates of the sale — restricted to licensed Hong Kong owners —
include Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), who sold for HK$1.7 million in 2004 and will
shoot for an unprecedented third straight victory in the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1)
Sunday afternoon; The Duke, a HK$1.6-million graduate who took the 2006 Mile;
and Scintillation, a multiple stakes winner in Hong Kong.
While the final of the mighty Danehills have made their way through this sale
for the last time, there is plenty of pedigree appeal. Among the horses expected
to attract the most attentions is Hip No. 17, a gelded son of Mr. Greeley from
Shawklit Delight (Pine Bluff). Purchased for $250,000 out of last year’s
Keeneland September sale, the striking chestnut made a favorable impression in
his under-tack breeze-up down the Sha Tin straight last Saturday He is a
half-brother to Shawklit Mint (Air Forbes Won), winner of the Vagrancy H. (G2).
Hip 13 is a son of Flying Spur, sire of Inspiration, who upset last year’s
Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) at 66-1. A son of Miss Mocha (Senor Pete), the August
foal cost A$230,000 at Magic Millions earlier this year.