Almost 12 months to the day that he saddled up 23 runners at the inaugural China Equine Cultural Festival in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, John Thompson posted what he believes is one of the most important results of his career courtesy of a union forged in China.
John Thompson
The quietly spoken but immensely likeable and dedicated Thompson was effervescent about the lightly raced filly First Seal after she stamped herself as one of the most promising three-year-olds in the Australia with a dominant win over some of the best fillies of her generation in the $175,000 G2 Coolmore Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
First Seal, who is owned by the China Horse Club (CHC), CHC IAC Member Dato Tan Chin Nam, Dato Yap Kim San, John Chua and Tunku Ahmad Yahaya, was gifted to Thompson after he began training an Australia team of racehorses for what would be the first internationally endorsed thoroughbred meeting ever held in Mainland China.
First Seal
That dedication to a larger cause of promoting the sport of thoroughbred racing in a new country allowed the CHC to experience the qualities of John as a man and as a trainer and it was clearly evident he was an individual the club was open to its members associating with.
“This is a fantastic result, not simply because a wonderful filly won a stakes race but because of the people associated with this,” said Mr Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of the China Horse Club.
Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of the China Horse Club
“The CHC is sharing this journey with Dato Tan, Dato Yap, John and Tunku Ahmad and that means a great deal. Dato Yap bred this filly and he was delighted after the race and we are delighted for him both as a breeder and as an owner.
“Coolmore, our breeding partner and good friend, is a wonderful supporter of racing and we are delighted to support them by contesting races like this and winning a race that carries their name.
“And John Thompson. John is a fantastic young man and he and his team, headed by Andre Rabbett, deserve great credit. John and Andre worked tirelessly before last year’s CECF and it was very clear that they held the qualities we value at the CHC. Hopefully this is the start of a fantastic journey with some fantastic people.”
First Seal scored by a widening three-quarter of a length from the previously undefeated Winx and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Earthquake. Jockey Blake Shinn was having his first race ride on the daughter of Fastnet Rock and put in a polished and confident display. Having settled just behind race leader Earthquake, he waited until he was inside the final 200m before letting his mount loose and she exploded away in a manner that Thompson had long promised she would.
“To train a filly like this for the CHC, its members and fellow owners is very special. The support they have provided at an important time in my career is something I will never forget,” Thompson said post-race.
“I apparently said after the race that [First Seal] is the ‘best I have ever trained’. I don’t recall saying it but she probably is.”
Thompson has privately hinted at the capabilities of First Seal and she will have her chance to frank that assessment at her next start in the G1 Flight Stakes (1600m). The race will be run just days before the hosting of The Zhejiang Nine Dragons Hill National Jockey Invitation Race – 2014 CECF, the feature event in China for the year for the CHC.
“I’m disappointed I can’t come back to China to see the CECF again this year (11th-13th October), I really enjoyed last year,” Thompson said.
“But I can’t leave this filly, not now. She is a super filly and it is vitally important we do everything right with her. I can’t wait until we get her to 1600m and then to 2000m.”
First Seal became the seventh individual stakes winner the CHC has an association with since it began racing less than 18 months ago. In that time CHC’s members have enjoyed exceptional results in China and around the world with 43 wins and a growing number of major trophies:
AUSTRALIA:
13 wins including major results:
1st G2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes (Zululand)
Zululand
1st G2 Coolmore Tea Rose Stakes (First Seal)
First Seal
2nd G1 ATC Champagne Stakes (Zululand)
1st G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes (Jazz Song)
Jazz Song
1st Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (Jazz Song)
1st Listed Talindert Stakes (Casquets)
SINGAPORE:
11 wins including major results:
1st G1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup (Tropaios)
3rd G1 Emirates Singapore Derby (Tropaios)
Tropaios
IRELAND:
4 wins including major results:
1st G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Australia)
1st G3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Trial (Australia)
2nd G1 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes (Australia)
Australia
ENGLAND:
2 wins from only 3 starts:
1st G1 Investec (Epsom) Derby (Australia)
1st G1 Juddmonte International (Australia)
3rd G1 Two Thousand Guineas (Australia)
Australia
FRANCE & ITALY:
7 wins including major results:
1st Listed Premio Pietro Bessero (Ming Zhi Cosmos)
1st Listed Premio Negaro (Ming Zhi Cosmos)
Ming Zhi Cosmos
USA:
2 wins including major results:
2nd G3 Long Island Handicap (Tabreed)
Tabreed
CHINA:
4 wins including the major results:
1st 2014 CEA Champions Tour Rider Club (Endzone)
Endzone
1st 2014 CEA Champions Tour Shanxi (Vinson Massif)
Vinson Massif
1st 2013 CECF France Galop Gold Cup (Surrealist)
Surealist
1st 2013 CECF Pengxin National Breeders’ Cup (Beat of the Drum)
Beat Of The Drum
“The CHC is driven to provide wonderful experiences for its members and one of the ways we can do that is through our racing program,” said Eden Harrington, General Manager of the CHC.
Eden Harrington, General Manager of the CHC
“To have members experience great results is very rewarding. Every winner is a great result, we are fortunate that some of the races wins we have been involved in are among the biggest races in the world. First Seal has taken a significant step forward today and hopefully she can continue on this upward trajectory. If she can then she will become our next G1 winner alongside Australia and Tropaios.
“It is a shame John cannot make it this year to China for the The Zhejiang Nine Dragons Hill National Jockey Invitation Race – 2014 CECF as he knows he will miss a fantastic weekend. There is no better opportunity for Chinese to experience the socializing, the glamour, the networking opportunities and to experience the ultimate thrill that is racehorse ownership than this weekend.
“I saw some of the horses that will be competing just the other day and they look in fantastic order and I know that they will put on a show on the day. If there are people that are contemplating being involved in an experience like this then I certainly urge them to contact us, they won’t regret being involved.”