A stirring duel between Call To Mind (left) and Commander (right)
The elation said it all. A day after her 91st birthday, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II, enjoyed the priceless thrills of watching her homebred colt, Call To Mind, turn promise into performance with a display of genuine merit when fending off the determined challenge of the China Horse Club’s colour bearer Commander at Newbury Racecourse in Britain.
Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II has long been a passionate racehorse owner in Britain
Her Majesty, Britain’s longest serving monarch and thoroughbred racing’s most engaging global ambassador, was on hand and was warmly applauded for her success by a crowd knowledgeable that the jubilation of racehorse success is a joy that spans the spectrum of society, the Queen included. From mums and dads owning a share in a horse for the first time, to owners with multi-generational ties to the sport, to commercial racehorse owners and to kings and queens of nations, the euphoria that erupts within is like no other. To that end, the ‘Sport of King’s has no peer in terms of sporting participation.
Nor does it have many equals when measuring your return on investment. From rubbing shoulders with aristocracy, to engaging with ‘kings and queens of business’, to champagne socializing, to witnesses first hand the measuring of equine excellence all but unchanged for more than three hundred years. These are the attributes that place thoroughbred racing on a pedestal and nowhere are these particular attributes more apparent than in Great Britain and Europe, especially at its great carnivals.
Racehorse ownership in Europe is a privilege and in 2017 the China Horse Club is poised to once again play its role. Whether it is Britain’s testing ‘Roley Mile’ at Newmarket where the Two Thousand Guineas and One Thousand Guineas meetings reign supreme; or the undulations, dips and cambering of Epsom, a test of greatness where 100,000 have anointed Derby heroes and Oaks heroines since 1780; to the raucous cheering of Ireland’s features at the Curragh; to the elegance and sophistication of France’s Poule d’Essai de Poulains at Longchamp and the Prix de Diane at Chantilly; to the opulence and extravagance of the five day Royal Ascot racing feast – Europe’s autumn and summer is a collection of moments that tantalise and demonstrate just why racehorse ownership is a virtue all should experience at least once.
For its part, the China Horse Club has enjoyed a growing number of priceless occasions in Europe despite having only commenced its commercial racing involvement in the region in 2013. The club has competed at and won feature events in Britain, Ireland and France _ the cornerstones of Europe’s racing centres _ including the Epsom Derby, the world’s most famous race, and it heads into 2017 with a young team showing great promise.
“From a small string of young horses the China Horse Club’s European based racing operation has started the season in highly encouraging fashion,” said Mick Flanagan, the China Horse Club’s European Bloodstock and Racing Manager.
Middle Kingdom remains undefeated after a stunning return to racing in 2017
“Middle Kingdom was exceptional winning on his first run back in 2017. He will improve tremendously from that performance and, when you consider he has won each of his only two starts, the year ahead could be very exciting for him. He is an undefeated colt by the champion stallion War Front who has made a habit of throwing exceptional racehorses season after season.
“Commander loomed strongly against the Queen’s colt, Call To Mind, with fitness probably telling a little in the end. He is a quality colt and has always hinted that he belongs in elite company and I wouldn’t be surprised if we compete against Her Majesty once again with him. And Inconceivable hit the line very strongly in her return to racing over the weekend.
“When you look at this trio and where they are at so early in their careers there is every reason to believe that they can all be competing in stakes company and over feature carnivals across Europe in 2017. And when you add Lockheed, who is already G1 placed, into the mix as well as Johannes Vermeer, already a G1 winner in France, then we have a highly promising young team on our hands.”
Europe has earned a reputation as the historic heartland of thoroughbred racing. It is here that modern thoroughbred racing first began before its popularity spread it across the Americas, Asia, Australasia, South Africa and other locations. And it is here that many internationally based owners aspire to succeed when they dream the dream of everyone who buys or breeders a racehorse.
“The independent international ranking of the China Horse Club confirms that we punch above our weight in the major racing centres and this is a record that we are determined to not only keep but to improve upon,” added Flanagan.
“In a short time, the China Horse Club has become the first Chinese race club to win European Derbies (two), to compete at the highest profile carnival which is Royal Ascot (three times) and to breed G1 winners and that is just in Europe. In the US and Australia there is a further list of achievements.
“These lightly raced young horses and some of our unraced horses are a talent pool that really excites me. There is untapped ability with a number of these young well bred horses and when you are lucky enough to be in this position the potential upside can be extensive.”
The China Horse Club’s European racing team has horses based in Ireland, Britain and France.
If you would like to learn more about the China Horse Club exclusive membership offer, please email your inquiry to horses@chinahorseclub.com