New Zealand has long been a happy hunting ground for stayers of note and China Horse Club has struck onto a highly progressive filly bred and sourced from the land of the long white cloud in, The Pearls.
The Pearls, a $460,000 purchase from Book 1 of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2024 Karaka sale, is out of stakes winner The Pearler and by the upwardly mobile young stallion Proisir. The son of Choisir has already produced six Group 1 winners, a Champion Sprinter Miler, Champion Middle Distance Horse and a Champion 3-year-old from seven crops of runners.
“We went to the sale looking for a special filly and physically we thought she was outstanding,” said Michael Smith, CHC’s Regional Manager of Australasia. “She was very robust and strong with great action and very clean angles. Proisir is a really impressive young stallion and her maternal family goes back to one of the most prolific in New Zealand. It’s “The” family of Group 1 winners The Twinkle, The Jewel, The Perfect Pink, The Chosen One, The Phantom and the Cox Plate winner, The Phantom Chance among others.”
Graduating at second asking in a 1500m event at Hawkesbury Sept. 25, The Pearls took on the boys next out in the G3 Gloaming Oct. 11, finishing a gutsy second. Returning two weeks later in the G1 Spring Champion S. against males at Randwick, she completed the trifecta there and was second next out in the G1 VRC Crown Oaks at Flemington Nov. 6.
“As a spring 3-year-old, The Pearls took on the boys to run second in the Group 3 Gloaming and third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes before making history in the VRC Crown Oaks as champion trainer Chris Waller’s first ever starter,” said Smith. “We couldn’t quite make it a perfect fairy tale with a win, but she ran a brave second and showed what has become her trademark tenacity and willingness to put everything on the line.”
Smith continued, “In a six-week period, she took her earnings to just north of $500,000 and has put herself on a path for more Group 1 targets this spring with the Group 1 Vinery Stakes and ATC Oaks being front of mind. She’s doing a remarkable job and has solidified her position as an important foundation mare at The Chase in the future. She is a filly we can dream about heading into the Autumn with the knowledge that these Kiwi-breds and horses from her family just tend to improve with time.”