Crystal Flute is a highly commercial broodmare and her talented son Meritable is justifying China Horse Club’s faith in her.
Stakes company beckons a pair of lightly raced China Horse Club colour bearers after exceptional performances from Quantico and Meritable in Australia and New Zealand respectively. The duo was part of the support team over the weekend with China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and partners focused on Captivant’s involvement in the AUD5 million Cox Plate – Australia’s premier spring weight-for-age contest.
Quantico was explosive when coming from well off the pace to post his fifth win in only nine starts in the AUD130,000 Southern Cross Group Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick. The five-year-old gelding has been a ‘slow burner’ for his powerhouse ownership base but their collective patience may well pay off over the next 12 months. Quantico has long shown bursts of his undoubted ability and striking back-to-back wins suggest he is deserving of a tilt at stakes company.
“Quantico has been taken along slowly but we are finally getting there with him and it was terrific to see him deliver in a quality race in emphatic fashion,” said Michael Smith, China Horse Club’s Australian representative.
“Fully fit, on a good surface and with the big track, Quantico made up a power of ground to get up for a most impressive win.
“We will see how he comes through this contest but we can look at stepping up to stakes company with him from here.”
Meritable is the veteran of only four career starts but looks to be on a similar trajectory to Quantico. The China Horse Club bred and owned colt is expected to contest the NZD500,000 G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in a fortnight and looks well deserving of that assignment after an eye catching second in the NZD110,000 G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Waikato on Sunday.
Meritable is the second foal of China Horse Club’s regally bred Crystal Flute who heralds from arguably the best family in the Australian studbook. The striking three-year-old’s second dam is a sister to former champion sire Redoute’s Choice and the mating with multiple champion sire Snitzel (a son of Redoute’s Choice) provides an intriguing pedigree modelling that may hint at part of the reasoning for his undoubted talent. Certainly, should Meritable add his name to the ledger of New Zealand 2000 Guineas winners, he will be a highly commercial stallion prospect. But much has to happen before then.
“Meritable has run super for second here and picked up some valuable black type for his dam going forward,” added Smith.
“He did a really good job today and [co-trainer] Andrew Forsman thinks there’s further improvement in him which is encouraging.
“Meritable looks to have come through yesterday’s race well and he is all set to take his place in Christchurch now in a few weeks’ time in the G1 2000 Guineas.”
Meritable’s performance was a further reference to the growing impact of China Horse Club’s Australasian broodmare band. The Sledmere Stud based broodmare foaled down a Justify colt in August and is currently in foal to So You Think. A full-brother to Meritable was sold in April at the Australian Easter Yearling Sales for AUD475,000.
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