Abel Tasman at the recent G1 Acorn Stakes in New York
A month after her heroics in the time honoured USD1 million Kentucky Oaks, Abel Tasman reaffirmed her role as the spearhead for the China Horse Club’s growing involvement in the United States when capturing her third G1 win in New York over the weekend.
The talismanic Abel Tasman once again closed out a feature US event, the USD700,000 Acorn Stakes, with a searing last to first finishing burst in front of almost 50,000 fans at New York racing’s biggest day, the Belmont Stakes. In doing so she stamped herself as the current star of her generation and lifted her career prize money to just under USD1.3 million from only eight career starts.
“With [Abel Tasman], she’s just getting really good and she showed that the Oaks was no fluke,” trainer Bob Baffert told Bloodhorse.com.
“She’s that good a horse. It was pretty exciting. The quality she has, I just see it in the mornings. She just gets better and better.”
The China Horse Club brand was ably supported by the immensely talented colt American Anthem who won the USD500,000 G2 Woody Stephens Stakes on the same card a few hours later. The hulking bay roared down the centre of the famed Belmont circuit to secure him most important win to date for his connections that include WinStar Farm and SF Bloodstock.
“The United States is a market that continues to grow in importance for the China Horse Club and the results enjoy over the weekend, especially with Abel Tasman and American Anthem, reinforce this,” said Eden Harrington, Vice President of the China Horse Club.
“Success in big races on big day fuels the interest of our members and that only grows our participation. The US is a fantastic industry to be involved in and we are very fortunate to have some exceptional partners. It is very rewarding to be able to share the results we have over the weekend with Clearsky Farm in the case of Abel Tasman and with WinStar Farm and SF Bloodstock with American Anthem.”
American Anthem at the G2 Woody Stephens Stakes, New York
The G1 and G2 successes were not the only notable results for members of the club in recent days with others including:
- Irish War Cry running second in the USD1.5 million G1 Belmont Stakes
- Siem Riep winning in Monmouth, USA
- Heliosphere winning at Warwick Farm, Australia
- Grand Koonta running a valiant second at Newmarket, Great Britain
Heliosphere winning at Warwick Farm
“Irish War Cry is an outstanding stallion prospect and while we do not share in his racing interests we do share in his future breeding interests and he was valiant in the Belmont Stakes when trying to lead throughout,” Harrington added.
“Members also enjoyed some fantastic results with some of promising lightly raced performers across the US, Australia and Great Britain.”
Abel Tasman is expected to race next in the G1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga in August.
If you would like to learn more about the China Horse Club exclusive membership offer, please email your inquiry to horses@chinahorseclub.com