Since his birth, he has been photographed like a celebrity and prior to auction was generating the media interest of a rock star. A unique pure white colt was always going to be the ‘must have’ racing asset from the 2017 Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka, New Zealand and, after frenzied bidding, his future lies in the colours of the China Horse Club.
Yet to be named, the charismatic colt will undoubtedly be an iconic horse once his racing career begins. If he can make his mark on the racecourse he may well have the opportunity to perpetuate his unique colouring for generations to come as a stallion at stud.
“A lot of people are naturally taken by his colour and how unusual that is. You cannot ignore it. But once look beyond the colour and assess the individual in front of you, you see just have strong he is. There is no softness about him at all, he is hard, natural muscle and that is what you want to see – strength, athleticism and balance,” said Michael Wallace, Head of Bloodstock and Racing for the China Horse Club.
“This colt is an exciting addition to the China Horse Club’s racing team and will be trained by Cairon Maher in Melbourne. He will go through the same program that all of our young horses do and he will be given his chance to show just what he can do.”
Shamexpress x The Opera House colt
The white Shamexpress x The Opera House colt stole much of the limelight of a fellow boom colt (O’Reilly x Volksrose) that was the most wanted yearling at the sale. The full-brother to G1 winner and star young stallion, Shamexpress, will race in a partnership that includes the China Horse Club.
O’Reilly x Volksrose colt
“There was no surprise that the full-brother to Shamexpress was shortlisted and chased by so many leading owners. He is just so strong, his core strength is unbelievable. He is a real athlete in every sense and he has a pedigree to match it,” Wallace said.
“He has a great length of rein and his movement is something I haven’t seen at Karaka for a long time. He is a very impressive colt. We will race him in partnership with Alan Bell, who has raced so many fantastic horses and who we share in Deep Field with, and with Newgate Farm. It is a fantastic partnership.”
And while this pair of exceptional colts stole many of the headlines by the close of the 2017 Premier Yearling Sale, the squadron of five outstanding yearling fillies has Wallace equally excited.
“I am very excited by the fillies we were able to secure. I believe the China Horse Club has secured arguably the five best fillies of the sale,” Wallace added.
“It is a significant investment but it is not without considerable though and planning. These fillies are all outstanding racing prospects and will fit very well into the elite broodmare band we are building across Australasia. We saw an opportunity to be aggressive in this market in 2017. You couldn’t mirror this right now at the Easter Yearling Sale or the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, so we moved with purpose.
Savabeel x Daffodil filly
“The Savabeel x Daffodil filly is a real queen and is very exciting. The O’Reilly x Striker filly is just phenomenal. She was as good a mover as any yearling on the sales ground. The Savabeel x Love Diamonds filly is a full-sister to a filly currently racing that looks group class and we previously raced her half-sister Heaven Has Eyes who clearly had ability but was injured after winning very well on debut. We also secured a full-sister to G1 winner Rock Classic and a very athletic filly by Stratum who has shown that he can throw elite fillies time and again.”
If you would like to learn more about the China Horse Club exclusive membership offer, please email your inquiry to horses@chinahorseclub.com