Another milestone was smashed by the China Horse Club’s racing operation over the weekend with an international double lifting the total number of wins by the club to 150 since it began racing in March 2013.
The speed of reaching such a mark was beyond the initial expectations of the club’s founder and chairman, Teo Ah Khing, but then again in just over three years its members have enjoyed success across no less than eight countries and in some of the biggest races on the planet.
Skywalk, winner of the 1100M race at Singapore Turf Club
The tally of 150 wins has been reached by 68 individual winners and there is every hope that Friday’s debut winner in Singapore, Skywalk, will be able to carry this tally forward and join a heady list of the club’s iconic performers.
“When we began racing in 2013 we certainly felt we could ensure our members won races and hopefully stakes races but it would not have been realistic to declare the that we could win 150 races around the world and build the record that we have so quickly,” Teo said.
“That we could win 12 G1 races including the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Caulfield Guineas, Flight Stakes, Singapore Gold Cup, feature two-year-old races, feature three-year-old races, feature sprint races, feature staying races, that the CHC would be the first owners in Australian history to win the Australian Horse of the Year, NSW Horse of the Year and Victorian Horse of the Year titles in the same season, that we could own in 11 quality stallions or stallion prospects and also have fast growing breeding interests in three major markets.
“It would have been arrogant to suggest this but, with our unique approach, a dedicated team and some good fortune we have been able to do all of this and I am delighted we have been able to because our members are the big winners. We continue to plan forward and we harbour weighty expectations for the years ahead because of the success enjoyed over the last three years.”
The success of the China Horse Club has been instrumental in promoting Chinese owners internationally, living up the club’s mantra of helping Chinese go ‘racing to the world’.
“It is rewarding to see the CHC colours continually carried to success around the world because it means we are delivering on our objective of getting our members into the winners’ circle more often,” Teo Ah continued.
“As a club we have an obligation to grow the industry in China and to grow interest in the sport. The win of Skywalk was particularly impressive and helps us achieve these obligations. Hopefully he can build on our success in Singapore which has been a happy hunting ground for CHC members since 2013 especially with the likes of Tropaios and Rite of Spring when we began and more recently with the likes of Wimbledon, A La Victory, Shanghai Bund and others.”
The winning double was brought up by Skywalk and Corroyer in Singapore and Britain respectively with Skywalk looking particularly impressive when streeting rivals by four lengths on debut. It was the most impressive debut in Singapore for a CHC runner since Rite of Spring who, prior to injury, was rated as the second best three-year-old in the island state.
Trainer, James Peter
“[Skywalk] has done everything right and has been so professional from the moment he arrived. It goes to show how well educated he was in New Zealand before he came here,” trainer James Peters said post-race.
“Obviously, you worry how he will behave at his first race. He was drawn a bit wide (12) and if he misses the kick, there is always this concern over how he will recover.
“But everything went well, though I was a bit worried to see him do all the work to chase down the leader, which can be hard first-up, but he did it very well in the end.”
The Englishman may elect to back up Skywalk into this Friday’s S$325,000 G2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) should be progress well this week such was the dominance of his display.
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