The esteem and affection that China Horse Club's Teo Ah Khing has for Russian Revolution is immediately evident in the tone of his voice when he speaks of the Newgate stallion.
With racehorses in eight countries across the world, a massive multinational broodmare band and investments in scores of stallions globally, you could forgive Teo for lacking sentiment about his bloodstock, but nothing could be further from the truth, especially when it comes to the horse he simply calls Russian.
"I was there when we bought him. He stood out and all the (stallion) syndicates shortlisted him. I remember speaking with Michael Wallace and we pushed very hard to get him. The selection process with the China Horse Club and Henry (Field), is very rigorous. It's like choosing Miss Universe or Mr Universe," Teo told TDN AusNZ.
"The selection process with the China Horse Club and Henry (Field), is very rigorous. It's like choosing Miss Universe or Mr Universe." - Teo Ah Khing
"Every year we go through a very rigorous process. You remember those horses that stand out and it was not surprising to me that he measured up. We had a budget for him, had one bid and got him."
That one bid at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale was for $320,000, with the son of Snitzel secured from the draft of Vinery Stud and sent to Peter and Paul Snowden to train. At that point, China Horse Club was a relatively new player in the Australian market having emerged in the previous 18 months.
Russian Revolution | Standing at Newgate Farm
In a brilliant 11-start career, which featured two Group 1 wins, Russian Revolution helped power CHC's interests in Australia to another level, making himself a career as a stallion.
"From day one, Peter Snowden had a lot of positive feedback about him. He was always such a consistent horse. Like many successful future stallions, he had the consistent way and was well mannered," Teo said.
"I was at both of his Group 1 wins. I remember being in Melbourne for the Oakleigh Plate. It was an amazing win and it was a tough win. It was similar in The Galaxy. He just showed up in those races."
What is perhaps not understood about Russian Revolution here in Australia is the impact the horse's success had on the global reach of the China Horse Club, which was set up in 2013 to be Asia’s premier lifestyle, business and thoroughbred racing club.
"Russian Revolution as a horse was really important for us as a club and particularly with our members in China. As a young club establishing ourselves with a major stallion, his success was historic for China Horse Club," Teo said.
"We have Russian members who live in St Petersburg and it consolidated that relationship. Just the name of the horse, it has travelled around the world."
Perhaps the greatest compliment for Russian Revolution is the company Teo holds him in when he considers China Horse Club's most important horses.
"Along came Justify and he is like a sequel to Russian Revolution. Russian came first and then Justify. Russian, for me, is really a cornerstone for our breeding project in the whole world," Teo said.
The 2021 revolution
To be put in the same bracket as an unbeaten US Triple Crown winner is some endorsement. It's backed up by the fact that Teo will travel to Australia - doing the mandatory two weeks of quarantine in Brisbane - to watch Russian Revolution's first crop go through the ring at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast in January.
There is a sense of palpable anticipation from the Singapore-based, Malaysian-born businessman at seeing how Russian Revolution's 35 first-crop yearlings will fare on the Gold Coast.
"I'm not just saying this because we own a major share in him, but many of our friends from Japan and China are looking at the stamp he has left on his progeny. The quality stands out across the board. It's not just about one or two standing out," he said.
"I'm not just saying this because we own a major share in him, but many of our friends from Japan and China are looking at the stamp he has left on his progeny. The quality stands out across the board." - Teo Ah Khing
"We ourselves have a few standouts, based at Sledmere, but across the board, all our breeders are very happy. We have great confidence in him. We have so much feedback, not just from Royston at Sledmere, there are so many other breeders sending photographs and we look at them, and you can see instantly the Russian Revolution stamp on them."
The faith China Horse Club has shown in the stallion is evident in its support through its broodmares, lifting the number it sent to him in 2020, which was his third season at Newgate.
"It was interesting, when in his third season, breeder support dropped off a bit as it tends to do, but China Horse Club, we bred more in year three than in our previous two years. That says a lot about the confidence of our members in him," he said.
Teo Ah Khing (right)
And Teo indicated that China Horse Club is keen to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to bidding on his progeny in the sales ring itself.
"There is quite a big bunch of Russian Revolutions that measure up to our selection criteria, which is very exciting," he said.
That includes China Horse Club's own stock, with a commitment to offer the best horses on the open market to determine their true value.
"When we breed, we are true breeders and all our best horses are also on sale," he said.
Australia at the centre of a global strategy
Australia remains the main focus of CHC's global investment, despite its increased level of commitment in the United States off the back of Justify's success.
"To date our largest investment in our entire global portfolio is in Australia. We believe in the Australian market and industry. It's healthy, it's competitive and it's world class," Teo, a former architect, said.
"We believe in the Australian market and industry. It's healthy, it's competitive and it's world class." - Teo Ah Khing
"Australia's selection of broodmares is very competitive. We always feel a bit lighter in the pocket every time after the broodmare auctions, but there is never any regret. We have a great collection of very beautiful and well-performed broodmares. We will continue to invest because we are getting results.
"The number of stallion shares and stallions we have, Australia is still top of the charts. We are investing a lot in America, with the Justify factor as well."
China is another area of substantial investment, especially moving forward, but Teo sees that as complementing what China Horse Club is doing in Australia, with the prospect of strong synergies between the thoroughbred industries in both countries.
"We never lose focus on what is our greatest market and if China's breeding and racing opens up fully, Australia will be standing to benefit. That's why our focus is in Australia. Our plans in China are very big," he said.
Teo Ah Khing (right) leads in Russian Revolution after his win in the G1 Oakleigh Plate
Back in business in the 'new normal'
The COVID-19 pandemic may have curbed CHC's global expansion plans somewhat this year, but Teo said ambitions for the group remain strong headed into 2021.
"Racing is a dream for many people, particularly in China. There are many people rising up in racing and that trend in China is strong. We are talking about 100,000s of people," he said.
"We see ourselves as a club that doesn't just rise today and disappear tomorrow, but one which can be a beacon to others. We want to lead the way so that others can come later on and be better than us. This is what the industry needs."
In order to achieve the success that Teo envisions, China Horse Club has had to utilise partnerships with many of the biggest thoroughbred racing and breeding operations around the world, including the likes of WinStar, Coolmore and locally, stallion partner Newgate. He sees this approach as the true power behind China Horse Club's existing success and future prosperity.
"Partnerships, they can have their differences, but to be able to work through and resolve those differences and come to a common understanding is important," he said.
"The China Horse Club and our partnerships are a great story to tell. Some people said the Club wouldn't last more than three years, but this is our seventh year and we are still going strong. Partnerships have been really important in that."
Island dream becomes reality
Among the most ambitious projects Teo is spearheading is the investment in the Royal St Lucia Turf Club.
In a multi-billion dollar project, he secured special permission from The Queen to develop a luxury club on the Caribbean island of St Lucia, focussed around the raceclub and securing additional investment to the island.
The inaugural US$150,000 Pitons Cup was staged at the track in December 2019 with grand visions for what the race and the Club might become.
"The Royal St Lucia Turf Club does what China Horse Club can't do in that part of the world. St Lucia will evolve similarly in terms of DNA to what China Horse Club has done. However, it has that geographic base, within the Caribbean, with the tourism and the appeal as that 'get away' destination," he said.
"That destination is about lifestyle and racing. It has gained traction in the first season. We hosted the Pitons Cup at St Lucia and we had very many private jets in St Lucia that had never been there before. The impact of the club itself on the economy of the island was clear for everyone to see.
"Sometimes we take for granted what a difference a big race can mean. For a small economy like St Lucia, a big race can have a big impact. It brought people from all over the world, from North America, Europe and from Latin America as well."
"Sometimes we take for granted what a difference a big race can mean. For a small economy like St Lucia, a big race can have a big impact." - Teo Ah Khing
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the 2020 event from taking place, but plans are firmly underway for racing to resume in 2021.
"I am confident it will resume bigger and better than it was. Give it five years, and I feel it may overtake what we have done with China Horse Club portfolio," Teo said.
Passion still burns strong
Through his multitude of investments, Teo's passion for thoroughbred racing and breeding remains undiminished. It is clear he intends to continue his involvement for some time to come.
"I told the boys that after five to 10 years I might hand over to them, but it looks like it has become my hobby now," he said.
"My whole family are connected to these horses around the world. It's part and parcel of our life and I think once that happens, it is very important to be passionate about it. We think a lot about how to improve not only what we are doing, but the industry at large."
