The 2016 Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) on the evening of Friday, 18 March gives Hong Kong Jockey Club members the opportunity to purchase any of 25 select lots, each procured as yearlings from the world’s major auctions, prepared to the minute and offered to the highest bidder in the spectacular arena of Sha Tin’s covered Parade Ring.
“The Hong Kong International Sale has a proven record of producing winners,” said Mark Richards, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Manager, International Sale. “It offers owners an opportunity to enjoy the buzz of a thoroughbred auction, to bid for an unexposed young horse with potential, a horse that has been hand-picked for the Hong Kong circuit and prepared by expert horsemen in New Zealand and the UK prior to arriving here ready to race. From Good Ba Ba to Domineer, this sale delivers good results.”
The Hong Kong International Sale has been an exciting fixture in the Hong Kong calendar since 1995. Graduates of the sale, known as ISG’s (International Sale Griffins), include a host of talented winners, the standout being the exceptional Good Ba Ba. The HK$1.7 million 2004 HKIS graduate ended his career a racing legend with 16 Hong Kong career wins and earnings of HK$59 million. Rated the world’s leading Older Turf Miler in 2008, the Lear Fan gelding was also voted Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year and was twice Hong Kong’s Champion Miler. A four-time international G1 winner, he remains the only horse to have won the G1 Hong Kong Mile three times.
Others for the HKIS hall of fame include The Duke, winner of the 2006 G1 Hong Kong Mile, with career earnings of HK$31.2 million for his HK$1.6 million purchase price; the high-class sprinter/miler Scintillation, whose victories featured the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile (2005) and HKG1 Centenary Sprint Cup (2006/2007); the 1998 HKG1 Stewards’ Cup hero, Billion Win; and Liberator, Hong Kong’s Champion Stayer in 2012, the year he won the HKG1 Champions & Chater Cup.
One ISG currently to the fore is Domineer, a HK$5 million purchase for the Fashion Syndicate out of the March 2013 HKIS. The Shamardal six-year-old has seven career wins on the board - for earnings so far of HK$8.7 million - including an impressive last start victory over 1200m at Happy Valley, which raised the prospect of Caspar Fownes’ charge contesting the US$2 million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m, dirt) at Meydan, Dubai at the end of this month.
Past graduates also include Pleasure Gains, whose eight career wins include last year’s HKG3 January Cup; Unique Jewellery, winner of the HKG2 Hong Kong Derby Trial in 2009; the 2001 HKG3 Chairman’s Trophy winner Lucky Six; the 2013/14 Champion Griffin and five-time winner, Bullish Smart; and the popular 10-time winner, Noble Conqueror.
Among the most recent graduates, Mr Right has three wins on the board already, having passed through the ring at last year’s HKIS. Another graduate of last year’s sale is Mr Picasso, an Exceed And Excel three-year-old, who looked an exciting prospect when flying home late to finish second on debut in a 1200m contest at Sha Tin at the end of January.
The 2016 Hong Kong International Sale on Friday, 16 March will commence at 8pm. A Cocktail reception at 6.30pm will precede the auction.
Potential buyers can watch this year’s sale horses stretch out over the Sha Tin turf during a breeze-up session and breakfast on Saturday, 12 March, which will be held from 8.30am to 11am.
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Photo 1:
Former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Good Ba Ba is a graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale.
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Photo 2:
Domineer, another graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale, lands the Happy Valley Trophy in style earlier this season.
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