Lauberhon
China Horse Club’s racing and breeding interests have enjoyed a productive start to winter in Australia, with The Chase graduates Lauberhorn, I Am Gone, Sense Of Duty and Hyper Ballad all adding to the CHC-bred and sold winners’ list in recent weeks.
Lauberhorn kicked things off at the beginning of June with victory over 1200 metres at Sandown-Lakeside. It was his second win from only three starts and his first with blinkers applied, further underlining his promise.
“He looks a progressive three-year-old,” said CHC’s Michael Smith. “I loved the way he attacked the line against the older horses at his last start. He is now pointing towards a three-year-old Listed race at Flemington on July 4. Any black type would be hugely valuable given he has a weanling full brother on the ground at The Chase by Extreme Choice.”
I Am Gone also joined the winners’ list, breaking through with a sharp maiden victory. The daughter of Extreme Choice out of Just Zerene showed speed and determination to secure her first win, adding another promising result to the CHC-bred and sold column.
“It was great for this mare to get a winner on the board from her second foal,” said Smith. “She was a super-fast talent herself and stakes placed. China Horse Club is racing a two-year-old Russian Revolution filly out of her called Howcani Resistyou with Lloyd Kennewell, and we like her. She ran second on debut and then we threw her in the deep end at stakes level, which was just a bridge too far at the time. She is one to watch over the late spring and summer when she comes back, as I think she will dispatch her maiden tag quickly and be progressive.”
Sense Of Duty added to the tally with a maiden win over 1300 metres at the Gold Coast. By Flying Artie out of Ordos Honor, the Gary Doughty-trained gelding had been knocking on the door after finishing second on debut, before producing an emphatic second-start victory from the back at the Gold Coast.
“Ordos Honor is doing a good job as a mare,” said Smith. “She is now two winners from two runners, including the very promising Rachini, by Zoustar, who also ran fourth in the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes during the autumn in Sydney. Ordos Honor is in foal to our homebred Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes hero Ozzmosis, who also happens to be by Zoustar.”
Hyper Ballad produced an eye-catching performance when making a successful debut on the Pakenham Synthetic, winning over 1100 metres for trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Thomas Stockdale.
A daughter of I Am Invincible out of Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo, Hyper Ballad began her career in the best possible fashion and immediately shaped as a filly with further upside.
“She had a setback early on that delayed her, but the time has done her no harm,” said Smith. “These I Am Invincibles tend to love good ground, which is why she debuted on the synthetic. It proved to be the winning move, as she was able to travel and quicken much better than what we had been seeing in her jump outs on wet tracks. It is great to get the win on debut and what I loved most about the victory was the determination she showed in the finish. She looks ripe for another start or two over the winter if we can find the right conditions before heading for a break and coming back for the summer racing.”
Together, the four winners underline the continued progression of China Horse Club and The Chase’s breeding record, as well as the ongoing success of stock sold through the market.