David
Lui and Karl Chan of new Hong Kong-based racing consortium Sweetbriar Equine
created the biggest splash on day one of New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run
sale when they went to $460,000 for Lot 106, a good-looking son of Hinchinbrook
from the Regal Farm draft.
Lui and Chan have created the Sweetbriar operation to foster their racing
interests in both New Zealand and Australia and have been active players in the
bloodstock scene of late.
Fresh from purchasing a sale topping colt by War in Melbourne last month, the
pair turned heads when they successfully outgunned a host of international
buyers to secure the Hinchinbrook colt.
"I think he will be an early runner," Lui said. "He breezed well and we like the
pedigree.
"Hinchinbrook is going very well in Hong Kong and we think his popularity will
continue to grow."
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung, who works closely with the pair,
reiterated his appreciation of the colt, who hails from an international
pedigree that includes Group winners in America, Hong Kong and the United
Kingdom.
"He is a lovely colt who was particularly impressive in his breeze-up," he
said.
"He seems to be a nice, relaxed type that will suit the Hong Kong racing
environment. I think that is one of the major selling points from this sale in
that it always seems to produce horses that go to Hong Kong and perform
extremely well.
"The sale this year is very strong and it was a hard fight to buy the horse
which is an indication of how many good judges were keen on him."
Lui indicated the colt would remain in New Zealand to be pre-trained, with
several options as to where he might race in the future.
"New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong are all possibilities. We will be guided
by our pre-trainer," Lui said.
Leung indicated the powerful Cambridge stable of Murray Baker and Andrew
Forsman were in line to receive the horse should his career commence in New
Zealand.
The sale represented a good pin-hooking result for Hongwei Chen and Alex Teng's
Horse Feng Bloodstock.
The son of Hinchinbrook was originally purchased for A$65,000 as a yearling at
the Gold Coast Sale in June. - NZ Racing Desk.