2015 has kicked off at a fantastic rate for the China Horse Club who will this weekend tackle G1 races at two of the world’s most prestigious carnivals in different hemispheres. Glamour filly First Seal will bid for further glory in the $A400,000 G1 Vinery Stud Stakes in Australia. While in Dubai, Just The Judge, who is raced in partnership with Qatar Racing, will stride the world stage in the USD6 million Longines Sheema Classic in Dubai. It is a heady rise for members of the China Horse Club who only began racing less than two years ago.
First Seal
Since its inception in late April 2013, members have experienced significant winning moments that were both powerful and moving. The club’s first runner Scarlet Moretta made a smashing debut when she won her first race by almost two lengths in the Inglis VOBIS Gold Sales Maiden Plate (1200m), at Sale in Victoria. The successful launch of the first ever CECF in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia followed soon after, the first internationally endorsed and richest thoroughbred race meeting in mainland China.Then Tropaios ended the season with a dramatic last-to-first victory at the G1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup. In less than a year, members enjoyed victories all over the world.
Step forward to 2014, a breakout year for the club having shared in the journey of champion colt Australia and the star filly First Seal in the northern and southern hemispheres respectively. Australia dominated the classic division winning a trio of G1 races and by year’s end was crowned the equal best three-year-old in the world in 2014.
First Seal became the seventh individual stakes winner the CHC has an association with since it began racing and its third individual G1 winner having annexed the G1 Coolmore Flight Stakes. As both Australia and First Seal were striding the international stage the CHC’s members were enjoying exceptional results in China where the club dominated the CEA Champions Tour. Around the world CHC enjoyed 43 wins and a growing number of major trophies. By the end of the year, the club had lifted its total tally of wins to more than 60 races in eight countries.
When 2015 rolled around, the successful launch of the CECF Singapore provided a glimmer of how the rest of the year might pan out. CECF Singapore, colourful and cinematic, drew a large crowd to the cosmopolitan metropolis. Shanghai Bund surprised everyone with a game win before the two CECF races while Parranda brought home the gold during the CECF Singapore Cup. So one can only imagine what might happen this weekend with the $A400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes in Sydney and the USD6 million Sheema Classic sponsored by Longines in Dubai. Dominant force of the Australian fillies division, First Seal, will front the former while Just The Judge will stride on the world stage for the latter. If CHC were to win both races during the weekend, that would be the cherry on top of a very large cake.