At the end of book one of the world’s premier yearling sale China Horse Club was in rare air. Offering yearlings from only its fifth year of operations as a breeder in the United States, its boutique programme stamped itself as world class when realizing the two highest price colts on Day 2 of 2022 Keeneland September, the second highest price overall and closing the book with an average of USD912,000 for the five yearlings it sold.
China Horse Club Chairman, Teo Ah Khing, was on hand to follow proceedings. After watching a second million dollar result light up the Keeneland sales ring he shared some insights on the Club’s plans to awaiting media.
“This is our fifth-year breeding in America, which is relatively short compared with many others,” he told TDN.
“We want to continue to upgrade our mares. We will come back in November [November Breeding Stock Sale] and look at our expansion plan in America.
“We have stallions to support like Life Is Good, Tiz the Law, Constitution, Improbable, Yoshida, Justify and others. We always bring [all yearlings] to market. That has been the plan from day one and it works. We will continue to participate on certain horses as well.”
“We always bring [all yearlings] to market. That has been the plan from day one and it works.” – Teo Ah Khing, Chairman China Horse Club
Teo Ah Khing (centre) with WinStar Farms Elliott Walden (left) and Dave Hanley (right)
The commercial appeal of the Constitution x Last Full Measure colt drew a swath of American racing’s most potent participants. A striking colt in his own right, he is a son of boom sire Constitution, half-brother to G1 winner Valiance, out of G1 winner Last Full Measure who is herself a daughter of G1 winner Lazy Slusan.
CHC’s Constitution x Last Full Measure colt led all on Day 2
Mike Repole, who secure China Horse Club’s Quality Road x Yellow Agate colt a day earlier in partnership with good friend Vinne Viola, had seen off several rivals as bidding escalated in USD100,000 increments. But in the end, it was Dana and Jim Bernhard of Lynnhaven Racing who won the day with a USD1,800,000 bid.
Mark Taylor, CEO of Taylor Made Sales who consigned the yearling, was rapturous in his assessment of the Constitution x Last Full Measure colt.
“We saw this colt at WinStar Farm a few times prior and as soon as we saw him, we said that was one of the best Constitutions we’ve seen,” Taylor said.
“He was one of the better colts we had seen in this crop. He’s beautifully bred and out of a Grade I winner and she’s also the dam of a Grade I winner. He was a great representative of the stallion and he brought a bunch of money which he deserved to.
“The blood is there. And this just looks like a Derby horse. A lot of presence. Big, strong and a lot of substance. We were fortunate to have him. China Horse Club just bred a beautiful horse.”
In its near decade of operation, China Horse Club has demonstrated its willingness to invest in young stallions it has commercial interest in. It has committed heavily to the likes of Russian Revolution, Zoustar and Extreme Choice in Australia and to New Bay in Ireland with great effect. In the United States, where its partnership with WinStar Farm has been so rewarding, sires who have enjoys its considerable support include Constitution.
On a day peppered with achievements, it was not lost that China Horse Club was rewarded for that support with the two highest priced results for Constitution yearlings in history. The first of which arrived on the second lot of the morning.
Constitution x Cozze Up Lady colt setting Keeneland alight
The Highgate Sale’s consigned Constitution x Cozze Up Lady colt was lighting up the ring before many had grabbed a coffee and a wall to lean against. Bid spotters were sent into overdrive as multiple contenders fired their interest in, seeing his sales price quickly climb through the seven figure mark. At the close, it was agent Richard Knight who won the day, securing the half-brother to G1 winner Kimari for USD1,300,000.
“He was absolutely my pick coming in here. I loved him from the moment I saw him. I thought he was everything we came here to look for,” Knight said post-sale.
“We came to look for a really smart horse who will hopefully be a two-turn horse. He has pedigree and is by a great stallion. Gorgeous-looking horse. Every single time he came out, he did it for me. Delighted to get him.”
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