China Horse Club’s homebred Just An Hour will bid to become the Club’s third winner at success Royal Ascot meetings after displaying the required determination to account for rivals around the tricky Killarney Racecourse in Ireland.
The handsome son of the Club’s U.S. Triple Crown winner Justify and may target either Thursday’s £120,000 Britannia (1600m) or Saturday’s £100,000 Golden Gates Stakes (2000m) as he bids to follow in the footsteps of Perotto (1st 2020 Britannia Stakes) and Saffron Beach (1st G2 Cambridgeshire Stakes).
“It was great to get the win at the picturesque Killarney. It was a little messy in the first half of the race but I loved seeing him hit the line hard. He had to be brave and showed a touch of class,” said Matt Houldsworth, China Horse Club’s European Representative.
“There are a few options for him at Royal Ascot like the Britannia Stakes and Golden Gate Stakes. The 2000m of the Golden Gate Stakes may suit but we will let him see how he comes through this and Joseph [O’Brien] will advise on how he progresses towards the Royal Meeting.”
Just An Hour was one of a succession of winners in recent days for China Horse Club. His success came a few days after Heman scored on debut in Australia for the China Horse Club/Newgate Farm/Trilogy Syndicate and less than 24 hours after the homebred colt saluted in Ireland, the well-bred filly, Princess Discreet, broke her maiden at only her second career start in New Zealand. The Andrew Foresman trained half-sister to G2 winner Believe Yourself sustained a solid sprint from midfield to salute at only her third career start.
Marine One
While the trio are continuing the ascent of China Horse Club’s racing division, one of its talented servants, multiple G2 winner Marine One, has been retired to take up stud duties in Western Australia.
Marine One will standat AUD8,000 (+GST) in his maiden season at Mogumber Park in association with Kingstar Farm and China Horse Club.
“We are excited to enter the West Australian market with Marine One in partnership with Matthew Sandblom and Mogumber Park,” said China Horse Club Chairman, Teo Ah Khing.
“Marine One offers West Australian breeders an outcross sireline and the key ingredients of a successful stallion – a great physical, precocity, and speed.
“The DNA of China Horse Club is one that has global outlook but is built on local partnerships and this venture is another extension of that. As such we not only look forward to supporting Marine One but to working with and getting to know West Australian breeders and participating in the broader market.”
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