Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
At A Glance
A gelding by Deep Field out of Hussterical (Beneteau) topped the sale at HK$9,200,000 (AU$894,000) when purchased by Alan Hu.
The aggregate increased to HK$76,200,000 (AU$14,820,000) (16 lots sold) up from HK$45,100,000 (AU$8,770,000) (15 lots sold) in 2025.
The average increased to HK$4,762,500 (AU$926,000), up from HK$3,006,667 ($AU551,500) in 2025.
The median increased to HK$4,600,000 (AU$845,700), up from HK$2,600,000 (AU$478,000) in 2025.
A buoyant 2026 Hong Kong International Sale at Sha Tin on Friday saw 16 horses sold, with a Deep Field gelding topping the sale at HK$9.2 million (AU$1.79 million) after being secured by purchaser Alan Hu.
Offered as Lot 2, the bay gelding is by four-time Hong Kong Champion Sire Deep Field and is out of Hussterical (Beneteau). Hu also purchased Lot 1, a son of Per Incanto (USA), for HK$4.6 million (AU$894,000).
“The Top lot by Deep Field that we bought at Magic Millions was highly desired by all the buyers, and there was strong competition on it. Making HK$9.2 million, which was a phenomenal result," Hong Kong Jockey Club's Southern Hemisphere buying agent Craig Rounsefell commented.
Lot 2 - Deep Field x Hussterical gelding | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Of the 16 lots sold, 11 realised more than HK$4 million (AU$730,400), while six surpassed the HK$5 million (AU$919,200) mark.
A Savabeel gelding, offered as Lot 4, was purchased by owner Yu Lung for HK$5.2 million (AU$1.01 million), before a second son of Savabeel, Lot 10, sold to Qin Fang for HK$5.4 million (AU$1.05 million). Savabeel has recorded more than 60 wins in Hong Kong, headed by seven-time winners Rattan (NZ), Flame Hero (NZ) and Ever Laugh (NZ).
A gelding by Written Tycoon, sire of Group 2 winner Tomodachi Kokoroe, was purchased by The Huw Syndicate for HK$4.6 million (AU$894,000), before Tang Kin Nam secured the first of two South African-breds in the catalogue, Lot 6, a son of Gimmethegreenlight (Saf), for HK$3.8 million (AU$739,000).
Lot 4 - Savabeel x Simply You gelding | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Austin Miu landed Lot 7, a bay son of Dundeel (NZ), for HK$5.4 million (AU$1.05 million), while Lot 8, a chestnut son of Mehmas (Ire), was purchased by owner Yan Ming for HK$5 million (AU$972,000).
The sale gross reached HK$76.2 million (AU$14.82 million) from 16 lots, a significant increase on last year's HK$45.1 million (AU$8.77 million) from 15 lots. The average price climbed to HK$4.76 million (AU$926,000), up from just over HK$3 million ($AU551,500) in 2025.
Lot 9 - Deep Field x Merited colt | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Lot 9, the second son of Deep Field to enter the ring, realised HK$6.6 million (AU$1.28 million) when purchased by Cheung Kwong Kwan, while a son of Calyx (GB) was knocked down to Lam Wai Ying for HK$3.4 million (AU$661,000).
Toronado's (Ire) Hong Kong performers include Helios Express, Little Paradise and Victor The Winner, and his representative, Lot 13, will race for owner Stephan Chan after being purchased for HK$4.6 million (AU$894,000).
Lot 13 - Toronado x Hera colt | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Coolmore Stud's late sire Wootton Bassett (GB) was represented by Lot 14, an attractive bay gelding out of Semillon (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who was purchased by Leung Shek On for HK$3 million (AU$583,000).
The second of the South African-breds, Lot 15, a son of What A Winter (Saf), was secured by Cheung Kun Tong for HK$3.4 million (AU$661,000).
Starspangledbanner, sire of Group 1 winner California Spangle, was represented by Lot 17, which was purchased by The Amazing Family Syndicate for HK$4.8 million (AU$933,000).
Lot 17 - Starspangledbanner x Miss Finland gelding | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Patch Syndicate paid HK$3.2 million (AU$622,000) for Lot 19, a brown gelding by I Am Invincible, while Lot 22 rounded out the evening when purchased by owner Tam Jin Rong for HK$4 million (AU$778,000).
“The international sale this year was a huge success. It boded well leading into the sale as there was massive interest and so it proved," Rounsefell commented.
“The international sale this year was a huge success. It boded well leading into the sale as there was massive interest and so it proved." - Craig Rounsefell
“The whole auditorium was packed, there were over 800 people in attendance. There was huge demand for permits this year from club members and there was strong activity at the sale itself with multiple bidders on every horse.
“One point that was very interesting was the work the club has put in to bring mainland Chinese into the ownership group at the Jockey Club, and they were very active, purchasing a number of horses and bidding on a number of horses throughout the sale.
Craig Rounsefell | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“It was exciting to see that the Aussie expat trainers that are gonna be training quite a few of these, with James Cummings securing a few, David Hall, a number of other trainers in Hong Kong hat these horses will be going into. Tim Boland from Limitless Lodge prepared the horses and did a phenomenal job. He had them peaking, and they were very well received.
"Danny Rolston and his team brought together the sale after we had pushed back this year to a later date, and it was great for the club. It was just a huge result and I'm looking forward to these horses in the years to come racing in Hong Kong, and hopefully there's a couple of real good ones amongst them.
“One thing that was very noticeable compared to last year. There was just a significant number of bidding paddles when these horses would go into the ring. It was a flurry of bids happening, and Clint Donovan, who was holding proceedings up there in the rostrum did a magnificent job.
“From my perspective, I was very proud of how well the horses were received.”
“From my perspective, I was very proud of how well the horses were received.” - Craig Rounsefell
Mr Danny Rolston, Executive Manager, International Sale/Owners Advisory Services, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, told hkjc.com.
“We’ve experienced a really healthy sale here tonight. There’s a really good increase in the average price, and I think, we’ve got a few factors right this year. But the message which comes out of today is the owner’s appetite for horse ownership in Hong Kong is really responding well to the bonus structure, increases in prize money and the initiatives the Club is putting into place.
Danny Rolston | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“The first key indicator we saw towards having a good sale was the large increase in ballot applications this year. So, with a higher application rate for the ballot, more permits in the market and having the sale after the ballot this year – I think we had all of the ingredients right for a good sale.
“This is only part of the journey; it’s taken us two years with these horses to get here and we’ve only sold around 50% of the horses we bought in that year. We’re holding the bar really, really high. We only want to bring the absolute best horses, the soundest horses, and the horses with the most ability and the best temperaments to the market. I think we did that today with a really reinvigorated appetite for ownership – the Hong Kong can do spirit; I think we’ve seen that come out to play tonight.”
“The Hong Kong can do spirit; I think we’ve seen that come out to play tonight.” - Danny Rolston
The median price rose to HK$4.6 million (AU$894,000), compared with HK$2.6 million (AU$505,000) at the 2025 sale.
