King High as a yearling
For the second time in just three days, a promising two-year-old colt carried the China Horse Club’s red and yellow silks to a stirring win. King High, fronting the starter for only the second time, ‘doubled up’ the debut win of In The Congo on Wednesday when doing everything possible to be beaten and winning on raw ability.
The handsome King High had every reason to buckle in the AUD35,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Newcastle (Australia). Having commenced well, he began over racing almost immediately giving jockey Alysha Collett a torrid ride. Collett had to watch rivals slide passed her through the middle stages of the race as King High continued to throw his head around, refusing to settle. Coming into the home corner the patient rider only had one runner behind her and was working hard to push her charge into the race. With clear running room King High began to extend and despite the extended effort in the run to the line, he was able to secure a determined win.
“[King High] did everything he could not win this race but was still too good for them,” summarized Michael Smith, China Horse Club’s Australasian representative.
“He was just all over the place in the running with his head up in the air in the early stages. Alysha deserves a lot of credit here she really knuckled down on him in the finish and got him rolling.
“The positive aspect, aside from getting the win, is that there is plenty of improvement and lengths up his sleeve if he can do things properly. Will find another race for him in a few weeks.”
In The Congo as a yearling
In The Congo, who is also raced by the China Horse Club/Newgate Farm syndicate, is a more tractable performer and couldn’t have been more impressive when leading throughout on debut in the AUD50,000 Heineken Handicap (1100m) at Kensington (Australia). The athletic chestnut began well, controlled the race from in front, and kicked clear over the closing stages for an imperious win.
“This was a promising start from a promising colt,” Smith said.
“In The Congo was very well behaved but he’s done this the hard way doing all the work to get to the lead, not getting much of a breather and finishing off well. He’s only had two-lifetime trials and this race so he’s very unexposed and untapped as of yet.”
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt holds nominations for the G2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes on 29th May as well as the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes on 12th June. Connections will discuss these races as well as the 2021 spring ahead of determining his immediate future.
Meanwhile, China Horse Club’s star stallion Australia continues its exceptional start to 2021 with the emergence of another quality performer. Epona Play raced away with the G2 Lanwades Stakes (1600m) at the Curragh (Ireland) by no less than four lengths and is likely to be tried in the elite company before the year is out.
It was the second group win in as many starts for the four-year-old mare this year. She joins a list of quality older performers for Australia which include Mares Australis (G1 winner), Sir Ron Priestley (G2 winner), Broome (G2 winner), and Counterparty Risk (G3 winner) among those flying his flag in early 2021. Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile winner, Order of Australia, is yet to make his seasonal bow but may do so at next month’s Royal Ascot showpiece with the G1 Queen Anne Stakes a likely target.
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