The immortal Danehill has always been a popular
commodity in Hong Kong and that trend continued last night when a colt by the
late Coolmore
stallion topped the Hong Kong International Sale. Owner Lydaa Ng, an executive
with toy
manufacturer Multitoys, signed the winning ticket on Hip 17, a New Zealand-bred
son of the
Caerleon mare Tamarino, and was pleased at the hammer price of HK$3
million
($386,847).
“I think the price was fair,” she commented. “There aren’t many more Danehills
around and I really liked his four white legs. They were very cute. I’ve had a lot of success
with Danehills before and I hope this one can give me the same kind of glory.”
Ng campaigned
Multidandy (Danehill), a five-time winner of over $600,000 in Hong Kong. She was also
part of
the syndicate which owned Trailthefox, a Grade 2-winning juvenile in the United
States.
Multidandy, 11th in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), was conditioned by Tony Cruz,
trainer of
Silent Witness (El Moxie), and Ng was hopeful her new purchase would soon join that
barn.
Also
active at the sale was Ronald Arculli, chairman of the HKJC, who purchased two
horses for
HK$2.8 million.
Conducted amidst a carnival-like atmosphere in the Sha Tin parade ring, the
International
Sale saw a total of 27 horses sell for gross receipts of HK$48 million
($6,189,555). The
average of HK$1.77 million ($229,243) was down by 21.5 percent from last year,
but the
outcome was affected by the
late withdrawal of a Redoute’s Choice gelding, who was
widely expected to top the sale.
HKJC Director of Racing Winfried
Engelbrecht-Bresges described it as a “sensible sale after the excessive results
of last year.
“It was a
natural correction, but we have to remember that we are supplying a service for
the owners,” he added.
“People were careful today after this year’s racecourse performances from last
year’s sale and I
think there was value for money to be had.”
Last year’s sale featured a record HK$6 million
purchase, but that horse, Can Opener, has earned just over HK$200,000 to
date.