The China Horse Club moved a step closing to having its second Royal Ascot runner in as many years after it was confirmed today that champion Australian colt, Vancouver, would be transferred to Ireland to be prepared for one of the world’s great racing and social events.
Vancouver, the undefeated Golden Slipper winning colt of 2014/15, will join the stable of Aidan O’Brien who perennially dominates Britain’s most famous racing carnival. The colt, who is the most valuable racehorse currently in Australia, would see his valuation leap further ahead should he be successful on a new stage this June. A further triumph at Royal Ascot would not only list him among the pantheon of Australian bred horses to have excelled at the iconic meeting presided over by HRH Queen Elizabeth II, it would automatically stamp him as a commercial stallion prospect in a second marketplace – Europe.
“He’s an incredibly talented horse and, with the autumn falling so early this year and Royal Ascot an important goal in June, we decided in consultation with managing owner Coolmore that it would be best to send him to Ireland to give Aidan O’Brien the necessary time to prepare,” Trainer Gai Waterhouse told www.racingandsports.com.au.
“As an unbeaten champion two year-old and winner of the Golden Slipper, he has nothing more to prove in Australia; I have no doubt that he is world-class and this plan gives him the best opportunity of proving himself on the international stage, with a view to possible dual-hemisphere stud duties.
“We’ll obviously be sad to see him go and I’m sure Aidan will have a lot of fun with him – Coolmore has followed this route very successfully in the past with [former Australian based runners] So You Think, Starspangledbanner, Haradasun and others and I wish Aidan every success with a horse I consider as talented as any.”
Coolmore, with whom the China Horse Club partners in Vancouver, is highly excited about the opportunity ahead.
“I’ve spoken to Aidan [O’Brien] and he can’t wait for the horse to arrive, a race like the Queen Anne Stakes would be a likely option I think,” Coolmore Australia’s Racing Manager James Bester said on Sky Sports Radio.
The £375,000 (RMB 3.6 million) G1 Queen Anne Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot is a likely target for the strapping colt. O’Brien had success in this event in 2008 when taking over the training of former Australian based galloper and subsequent stallion Haradasun. The race has been won in recent years by the likes of the immortal Frankel and Goldikova as well as Toronado and Solow.
If you would like to learn more about the China Horse Club exclusive membership offer, please contact Mr. Eden Harrington or Ms. Fu Peipei. We look forward to hearing from you.
Mr. Eden HARRINGTON eden@chinahorseclub.com (Hp no : +65 93769968)
Ms. FU Peipei peipei@chinahorseclub.com (Hp no : +86 18600929029)