MEDIA RELEASE: Thursday, 17 March 2016
CHINA HORSE CLUB EXPANDS ITS SUPPORT
OF ATC AND SYDNEY RACING
The China Horse Club’s growing involvement in Sydney racing and its support of the Australian Turf Club has been expanded this Saturday with the $1 million Group China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Longines Golden Slipper Day.
The time-honoured weight-for-age event is the first race sponsorship in Australia for China’s premier lifestyle, business and thoroughbred racing club, which built an immediate affiliation with the Australian Turf Club’s Sydney Autumn Carnival last year.
This included its successes in the Group One Schweppes All-Aged Stakes and Inglis Sires Produce Stakes with 2015 Australian Horse of the Year Dissident, and Pride of Dubai respectively.
This Saturday the China Horse Club’s red and yellow silks will be carried by four runners including Extreme Choice, favourite in the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper, and Press Statement and First Seal, who will both contest the China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Officer Darren Pearce said the China Horse Club was a growing force in Australian racing, and its sponsorship followed the ATC’s successful launch in January of the Chinese Festival Of Racing.
“We are delighted to have the China Horse Club as a sponsor on such an incredible day of racing, and the China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes has attracted the best horses in the country,’’ Mr Pearce said.
“Press Statement and First Seal in the China Horse Club colours are taking on Australia’s superstar mare in Winx and the race promises to be one of the great highlights on the biggest day of Group One racing in Australia.
“The race also includes arguably New Zealand’s best miler in Turn Me Loose, as well as the reigning The Star Doncaster Mile winner in Kermadec.
“And if Extreme Choice can take out the Longines Golden Slipper it will be the greatest success yet for the growing China Horse Club.’’
The China Horse Club is China’s premier lifestyle, business and thoroughbred racing club and provides bespoke experiences to its members both in China and around the world.
In only three years it has emerged as an influential racing force winning almost 130 races across nine countries around the world headed by Britain’s Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby, Caulfield Guineas and Flight Stakes.
“The Golden Slipper Carnival is one of the world’s foremost race days and the China Horse Club is delighted to partner with the Australian Turf Club to continue its support of the Australian industry,” said Eden Harrington, Vice President and Head (Partnerships/Membership).
“Since our members began racing in 2013 we have committed wholeheartedly to helping strengthen the racing and breeding sectors in Australia and our members have found this commitment very rewarding. Our sponsorship of this year’s China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes is a further reflection of this commitment and we are encouraged that the 2016 edition shapes as one of the great races of the year.”
China Horse Club members race thoroughbreds at premier events around the globe from the China Equine Cultural Event in their home country, to Royal Ascot (Great Britain), the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (France) and Sydney’s very own The Championships (Australia).
Members are invited to enjoy the club’s international facilities including the recently refurbished Alpina Mountain Resort and Spa Swiss Alps (www.the-alpina.com/en). Set among the Swiss Alps it offers breath taking views, world class skiing and a personalized service for guests. The opportunity also exists to relax among the tranquillity of the Australian countryside at ‘The Chase’. This showpiece estate is an ideal home away from home and will also cater for a select number of racehorses for the club.
Membership of the China Horse Club is a gateway into a world of opportunities from exclusive investment opportunities across a range of industries including real estate, commercial business and elite thoroughbred stallions and mares. Currently members of the China Horse Club currently own in 11 commercial stallions across markets in Europe, North America and Australia, breed commercially and race thoroughbreds with some of the world’s most famous and successful owners.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE CHINA HORSE CLUB SINCE 2013:
- Hosting the only internationally endorsed thoroughbred racing carnival in Mainland China;
- Winning 130+ races across Australia, Britain, China, France, Italy, Ireland, Singapore and the United States;
- Winning 11 G1 events (up to February 2016);
- Creating the CHC China Dream Project to provide international opportunities for talented Chinese men and women;
- The first club to successfully export horses from China to race and win internationally
For more details on the China Horse Club please visit www.chinahorseclub.com or follow it on Twitter on @Chinahorseclub and Instagram.
ATC MEDIA CONTACT: Brett de Vine 0419 613 455
bdevine@australianturfclub.com.au
CHINA HORSE CLUB MEDIA CONTACT: Eden Harrington
Australian Turf Club Ltd
Royal Randwick Racecourse, Alison Road, Randwick.
Locked Bag 3, Randwick, NSW 2031 | P 02 9663 8400 | F 02 9662 6292
theATC.com.au | ABN 81 148 157 288