Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Inaugurated in 1995 as an opportunity for Hong Kong owners to buy unraced Griffins with international pedigrees, the Hong Kong International Sale for 3-year-old horses is conducted as a breeze-up sale with horses sourced from the major yearling sales around the world each year.
This year’s catalogue features horses purchased in 2022, with each horse having gone through an education process and extensive veterinary checks before they arrive in Hong Kong, and again after their breezes.
The sale has been traditionally held on the Friday prior to the Hong Kong Derby, which is usually mid-March, and will be back in this slot for 2024. The COVID-19 pandemic caused several years of disruption, in 2020, the sale was delayed until the end of May, then in 2021, restrictions meant the sale was held in June. In 2022, the sale was held in July, then in 2023, at the end of June. The weather in Hong Kong in June and July tends to be tricky, so the move back to the traditional time slot is a positive move.
Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) is the Southern Hemisphere agent for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, while Michael Kinane, previously of Vintage Crop fame, is responsible for sourcing the European horses.
Craig Rounsefell
“There are 20 lots catalogued for this year, 11 from the Southern Hemisphere and nine from the Northern Hemisphere (four have since been withdrawn). The Hong Kong International Sale is important as it gives Hong Kong Jockey Club members an opportunity to purchase ready-made racehorses,” Rounsefell said.
This year's renewal will be looking to build on last year's solid results.
A son of Zoustar (now named Patch Of Theta) topped the sale in 2023 after attracting a bid of HK$8.6 million (AU$1,700,000) as fifteen lots sold for a total return of HK$71.6 million (AU$13,800,000), up from HK$71 million (AU$13,700,000) in 2022. The average rose to HK$4.77 million (AU$921,000) up from HK$4.17 million (AU$805,000) in 2022.
As always, this year's list of representatives are all by stallions that resonate in Hong Kong.
Australia (GB), two lots by Deep Field, Dundeel (NZ), Exceed And Excel, two lots by I Am Invincible, Invincible Spirit (Ire), Magnus, No Nay Never (USA), Per Incanto (USA), Savabeel, two lots by Siyouni (Fr), two lots by Starspangledbanner, and two lots by Zoustar.
Rounsefell, who is currently in Hong Kong, shared some insights on the process the thoroughbreds undertook to get there.
“The yearlings are purchased in Australia and New Zealand and after the sale they go straight to Tim Boland's property, Limitless Lodge, where they stay until they are ready to be presented at the sale in Hong Kong. The Northern Hemisphere and South African horses go to the famous Manton Estate in the UK under the guidance of trainer Brian Meehan.
“After we buy them, they have a spell before going through an education process,” explained Rounsefell. “Tim brings them all up to the trialling stage, so Hong Kong owners can purchase a horse that is ready to go on with immediately after the sale as 3-year-olds. Each horse has been in Hong Kong for about a month, in quarantine and settling into life there, while maintaining their fitness.”
“After we buy them, they have a spell before going through an education process. Tim (Boland) brings them all up to the trialling stage, so Hong Kong owners can purchase a horse that is ready to go on with immediately after the sale as 3-year-olds.” - Craig Rounsefell
This year's group breezed on March 9 with all the times posted on the HKJC website.
Rounsefell stressed that it's more about how they breeze and not necessarily how quickly they do it. But, as an example, a Zoustar gelding out of One More Honey (Onemorenomore), purchased at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $1 million, breezed his final 200 metres in 10.52s.
“I’ve been in Hong Kong since the breeze-up day and will be here through to the sale. This year is an exciting line up, they all breezed nicely, and appear to be handling everything and appear to be well-received. There are plenty of inspections for local trainers and owners to look over each horse and narrow down their short list for the sale.”
When asked about the risks of bringing horses from yearlings through to ready-made 3-year-olds, Rounsefell said, “The horses are continually assessed by Tim and Brian and if their ability and soundness meet the required standard and they pass all the vetting, they will go to Hong Kong for the International Sale. Every year there are a few horses who don’t pass the stringent criteria along the way, and these are re-sold locally. The focus is to get a collection of horses to the sale who can cope with going straight out of the sale into a Hong Kong stable.”
“The focus is to get a collection of horses to the sale who can cope with going straight out of the sale into a Hong Kong stable.” - Craig Rounsefell
Although the economy in Hong Kong is not soaring, Rounsefull believes that graduate success from this sale over the years will give would-be buyers confidence.
“The sale topper from last year, Patch of Theta, won impressively on Saturday at Sha Tin, while obviously, Romantic Warrior is a standout graduate of the sale.”
Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) was initially sourced from the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale before he was sold at the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale for HK$4.8 million (AU$927,000) to Peter Lau Pak Fai.
“I’ve only been doing this for a few years, and M Unicorn from my first year has won four races this season, while Super Goldi also looks to be an impressive racehorse,” Rounsefell said.
Some of the Australian lots include:
Lot 11 - Zoustar x One More Honey by Onemorenomore
A $1 million purchase from the Emirates Park draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, this gelding is a half-brother to 2-year-old Group-placed winner Man In The Mirror (Not A Single Doubt), out of G2 Sweet Embrace S. winner One More Honey, who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Vega One (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Lot 8 - I Am Invincible x Lipari by Redoute’s Choice
A blue-blooded half-brother to Group 1 winner Levendi, Group 3 winner Wu Gok (Sebring), and Group 3 winner Marcel From Madrid (Sepoy), this gelding’s dam Lipari is a stakes-placed winner. He was a $600,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Baramul Stud draft.
Lot 10 - Per Incanto (USA) x Monarch (NZ) by Volksraad (GB)
A full brother to G1 Railway S. winner Santa Monica (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), this gelding was a $560,000 purchase from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Lot 12 - Deep Field x Onemorezeta by Onemorenomore
This gelding was purchased for $500,000 from the Attunga Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. His dam, Onemorezeta, is a Group 3-winning half-sister to young sire Cosmic Force and Listed winner Razeta (Deep Field).
Gallery: Some of the Australian-bred lots to be offered at the 2024 Hong Kong International Sale, images courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Lot 19 - Deep Field x Whistling Dixie (NZ) by Pins
Out of G3 Eulogy S. winner Whistling Dixie, whose first three foals to race are all winners, this gelding was purchased for $400,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Whistling Dixie is a half-sister to Listed winner and Hong Kong Group 1-placed Victory Magic (NZ) (Savabeel).
Lot 9 - I Am Invincible x Mark Two (NZ) by Pins
This gelding is from the same family as Lot 19 and his dam, Mark Two, is a stakes-placed half-sister to Victory Magic and Whistling Dixie. He was a $550,000 purchase from Yarraman Park Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Lot 18 - Dundeel (NZ) x Whispering Brook by Hinchinbrook
This gelding is the first foal of G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Whispering Brook, who won 10 races, and his 2-year-old full brother has recently been named Buckenara. He was purchased from Arrowfield Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $525,000.
Lot 1 - Exceed and Excel x Cheetara, by More Than Ready (USA)
A half-brother to G3 Pago Pago S. winner Single Bullet (Not A Single Doubt), this gelding was purchased from Corumbene Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $400,000.
