A total of 27 colts and geldings — 25 juveniles and a pair of
three-year-olds — are set to go under the hammer at Saturday’s Hong Kong
International Sale (HKIS), to be held in the parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse.
The late, great Danehill has left his mark at racetracks and sales venues all
over the world, and Hong Kong is no exception. As the sire of more than 300
worldwide black-type winners and counting, the stallion is responsible for six
champions in the SAR and a pair of winners on International Day — Fairy King
Prawn and Lucky Owners. Two of his sons, The Duke and Scintillation, sold well
at this sale and are slated to go postward in Sunday’s Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1),
where they finished third and fourth last year, respectively.
Danehill’s lone two-year-old in Saturday’s auction figures to attract his
fair share of attention. Catalogued as Hip 17, the October 15 foal is a full
brother to multiple stakes-placed Danalaga. The bay colt has additional appeal
down the page as his dam, Tamarino (Caerleon), is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup
Turf (G1) hero and champion turf horse Northern Spur (Ire) as well as listed
winner Oenothera, the dam of Grade 3 winner and classic-placed Sundrop (Jpn)
(Sunday Silence). He was purchased for NZ$475,000 at the Karaka Premier Yearling
Sale in 2004.
“He’s progressed very well since he got here,” said Mark Player, the manager
of international races, sales and development for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “He
breezed very well and looks a gem of a horse, like his brother. He should give
buyers a good bit of confidence.”
For those who can’t get to the Danehill, there are five horses available by
his increasingly popular sons. Redoute’s Choice, the sire of no fewer than 15
black-type winners from his first two crops, including three at Group 1 level,
is represented by one offering in the sale. There are also juveniles by Desert
King, sire of the great Makybe Diva, Group 1 hero Danzero and 2004 Australian
champion juvenile Dance Hero.
Also available are two-year-olds by Acatenango, Anabaa, Cape Cross (Ire),
Encosta de Lago, Fantastic Light and Montjeu (Ire).
There are two American-bred horses in the catalog. Hip 8 is a son of King’s
Best out of Joop (Zilzal), a $60,000 Keeneland September graduate, while Hip 18 is a
colt by Bahri out of Secret (Secreto), purchased for $140,000 at the same sale.
Last year’s HKIS proved successful, with 19 horses selling for a total of
HK$43 million, an average of HK$2.2 million. There are three scratches from the
sale: Hips 12, 27 and 29.