The undeniable side effects of the global pandemic may have physically kept China Horse Club’s most senior personnel away from the Keeneland’s famed sales ring. However, there was no denying the impact of the internationally-minded operation on the open day of trading of the world’s most famous thoroughbred auction, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
As the first session of the sale closed, one of China Horse Club’s star yearling for 2020 sat atop bidding after 224 yearlings had been catalogued for sale. Frenzied activity for the Tapit x Embellish The Lace filly drove bidding on until the gavel slammed at USD1,250,000.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with this result,” said Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of China Horse Club, told the Thoroughbred Daily News post sale.
“The mare is class. She is putting down beautiful stock, just what we hoped for when we purchased her. She was well raised by both WinStar and Bluewater and it’s a privilege to offer fillies like her, although always sad to let them go.”
With international markets in disarray the China Horse Club were conservative in their estimations for the ‘blue chip’. However, there was no denying the interest in the filly.
“It’s a strange year, 2020, and this was the first horse we were bringing to the ring in Book 1,” Meg Levy, principal of Bluewater Sales, told awaiting media after the seven-figure sale.
“So, while we expected that she could be in that range, you just never know. It seemed like all the right people were on her. She’s been nothing but a queen, and she put all the pieces together.
“The market is increasingly physically demanding, and there were just no holes. She had the page and the physical. She was vetted about 14 times and it seemed like everyone showed up, so fair value.”
The session topping result is the second notable sales result for China Horse Club in recent months. In April, its Snitzel x First Seal colt was the hottest commodity at Australia’s flagship Inglis Easter Year Sale when Coolmore Australia signed for the yearling at AUD1,800,000.
“A USD1,250,000 sale is a wonderful result for the Tapit x Embellish The Lace filly and it continues our recent run of good results both in the sales ring and on the racetrack,” said Michael Wallace, Chief Operating Officer of the China Horse Club.
“We have a growing number of graduates developing into graded stakes winners and buyers are seeing that. Results like Girl Daddy winning the USD200,000 G3 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs (USA) and Dame Giselle winning back-to-back G2s in Australia is telling. It demonstrates that our programmes are working and that elite athletes are coming through the system.”
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