Trish Dunell Photography
David Lui and Karl Chan of new Hong Kong-based racing consortium Sweetbriar Equine created the biggest splash on day one of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run sale when they went to $460,000 for Lot 106, a good-looking son of Hinchinbrook from the Regal Farm draft.
Lui and Chan have created the Sweetbriar operation to foster their racing interests in both New Zealand and Australia and have been active players in the bloodstock scene of late.
Fresh from purchasing a sale topping colt by War in Melbourne last month, the pair turned heads when they successfully outgunned a host of international buyers to secure the Hinchinbrook colt.
“I think he will be an early runner,” Lui said. “He breezed well and we like the pedigree.
“Hinchinbrook is going very well in Hong Kong and we think his popularity will continue to grow.”
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung, who works closely with the pair, reiterated his appreciation of the colt, who hails from an international pedigree that includes Group winners in America, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
“He is a lovely colt who was particularly impressive in his breeze-up,” he said.
“He seems to be a nice, relaxed type that will suit the Hong Kong racing environment. I think that is one of the major selling points from this sale in that it always seems to produce horses that go to Hong Kong and perform extremely well.
“The sale this year is very strong and it was a hard fight to buy the horse which is an indication of how many good judges were keen on him.”
Lui indicated the colt would remain in New Zealand to be pre-trained, with several options as to where he might race in the future.
“New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong are all possibilities. We will be guided by our pre-trainer,” Lui said.
Leung indicated the powerful Cambridge stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman were in line to receive the horse should his career commence in New Zealand.
The sale represented a good pin-hooking result for Hongwei Chen and Alex Teng's Horse Feng Bloodstock.
The son of Hinchinbrook was originally purchased for A$65,000 as a yearling at the Gold Coast Sale in June. - NZ Racing Desk.