Dissident
Members of The China Horse Club enjoyed their second G1 win in only 12 days when star racehorse Dissident fought off a vintage field of rivals to win the RMB2,000,000 ($A400,000) G1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) in Sydney in doing so Dissident reaffirmed a growing argument that he is the best racehorse in Australia.
The All-Aged Stakes was the eighth G1 win for the China Horse Club in less than two years of racing and the second secured by Dissident since the club took an interest in the stallion alongside partner Newgate Farm. G1 races, the gold standard of thoroughbred racing, have also been won by China Horse Club performers Australia (3), First Seal (1), Tropaios (1) and only last month by the budding superstar Pride of Dubai (1).
The resurgent Dissident closed his Australian career off in the impeccably fashion with his fifth career G1 win and his fourth for the season. The crack sprint-miler may now sign off his exceptional racing career with an international sojourn as connections evaluate Britain’s Royal Ascot meeting in June before he takes up stud duties at Newgate Farm.
“Dissident has put his hand up to be Australian Horse of the Year. He is an exceptional racehorse and he has won twice as many G1 wins as any other horse that has raced in Australia this season,” said Henry Field, Managing Director of Newgate Farm.
“It has been a great day and the number of people that have booked a mare into him (for when he retired to stud as a stallion) today is phenomenal.”
Pre-race media discussions in Australia implied that a win for Dissident would place him as the lead candidate for Australian Horse of the Year, an honour bestowed to the best horse racing in Australia in a season. The $A400,000 G1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) was Dissident’s fourth G1 for the 2014-15 season with two G1s secured in the spring of 2014 and two in the autumn of 2015 reinforcing his durability, soundness and honesty.
“We are very lucky, we really are. We share in a wonderful horse with great partners like Newgate Farm and with a great trainer like Peter Moody and this is really exciting,” said Mr Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of the China Horse Club.
“We work hard to put our members in situations where they can really enjoy great moments so it is rewarding when you see plans come off. A wonderful ride from Jimmy Cassidy, all credit to him and to Peter [Moody] and to Henry Field and the team behind Newgate Farm. We are delighted to be able to continue sharing an exciting journey with them.”
Jockey Jimmy Cassidy with Dissident
Dissident will be the second stallion to retire to stud that the China Horse Club has an active interest in. Last season’s champion three-year-old Australia began stallion duties at Coolmore Ireland this year. Australia is expected to cover between 150 and 200 mares in his first year at stud at a fee of RMB 335,000 (€50,000) for each mare covering.
Dissident’s fee has yet to be made public but he will almost certainly be among the most popular first season stallions to retire to stud in Australia in 2015. His two G1 wins in 2015 have enhanced his value and commercial appeal and a Horse of the Year title would only reinforce that. These successes have provided an immediate return on investment for his new owners with his growing commercial appeal already ensuring immense demand for him even before Newgate Farm has officially announced his service fee.
Dissident
“Dissident was a commercial stallion when we bought into him last year and he is an even more commercial stallion now,” said Eden Harrington, General Manager for the China Horse Club.
“The nature of any business is that you succeed when there is demand for your product. The demand for Dissident from breeders is very apparent and continue to grow, inquiries have been coming into Newgate Farm for some time and these inquiries will only become more frequent now. He will be sold out in his first year at stud and he is a hot hot commodity.”
Trainer Peter Moody, Jockey Jimmy Cassidy with Dissident
Trainer Peter Moody was glowing in his praise as Dissident closed out his career in Australia. The champion trainer was a part-owner of Dissident until last year and took great joy in leading him back to the winner’s enclosure to the applause of the crowd at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
“He has never got the accolades he deserves his colt,” Moody said of Dissident.
“He has raced at group level since day one. He won his first race and he won his last. You’re mad if you don’t send a mare to him.
“When Jimmy [Cassidy] rode him in trackwork last Friday I wanted to convince him how well [Dissident] was going and [Cassidy] ended up convincing us.
“This is a very fitting way to end. I have had the pleasure of retiring three G1 winners. Typhoon Tracy and Black Caviar and [Dissident]. The first two were Horse of the Year and [Dissident] has put his hand up to be number three.”
Dissident has won seven races and almost RMB10 million ($A2 million) in prize money.
