1. Protecting a heritage,
representing a future.
01638 661321 l info@thetba.co.uk
National Hunt Foal Show
Sunday 26 July, 10.30am Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse
A unique opportunity for National Hunt enthusiasts to gather together to
showcase their young stock, and for spectators to enjoy a wonderful day
seeing the stars of the future. Come and join us – free entry for spectators.
Kindly sponsored by:
17Racing Post Thursday, June 25, 2015
BLOODSTOCK WORLD
Age 38
Occupation General manager
of the China Horse Club
How and when did you
become involved in
racing? I started my career as
a racing journalist in Australia
in late 1997 but the passion for
racing began long before this. I
was working for News
Corporation in Australia, first
with The Sportsman newspaper
and then the Daily Telegraph
and Sunday Telegraph, the
biggest selling newspapers in
Sydney.
During that time I was
fortunate to cover many of
Australia’s great races, meet
wonderful people who are still
friends today and to cover other
sporting events such as the
Sydney Olympics and Rugby
World Cup.
Who has been the greatest
influence on your career?
I’ve been very fortunate to have
had a number of mentors over
the years. Ray Thomas, the
racing editor of Australia’s
Daily Telegraph, taught me
much about work attitude and
making the most of
opportunities.
Darley’s Joe Osborne was a
wonderful guide during my
time on the Darley Flying Start
and I continue to learn every
day about business and
marketing from Teo Ah Khing,
who is one of the most unique
minds I’ve ever met.
What aspect of your job
do you most enjoy?
The fast-evolving possibilities
that are part and parcel of the
China Horse Club certainly
excite. I’m encouraged to think
big, dream big and plan big.
Not every plan comes to
fruition but I have no doubt the
CHC can help promote racing
to a wider audience and to an
established audience in a new
way in the coming years.
And least enjoy?
The tyranny of distance is
always a challenge. Being away
from my wife, my family and
friends for long periods of time
is never easy.
Best day in the business?
Tropaios’s win in the Singapore
Gold Cup was very rewarding
as it was the club’s first big win
and there was a strategy behind
it. But I believe the best days
are still ahead.
If you intended to spend
£1,000,000 on a yearling,
whose opinion would you
seek? And who would you
want to train and ride the
horse? I have a lot of time for
the judgement of Michael
Wallace and Alex Elliott. I’m
also endlessly respectful of
John Magnier’s influence. It’s
hard to surpass Aidan O’Brien’s
ability to make horses peak in
major races. The last week has
also shown he pairs up well
with Ryan Moore.
If you could have owned
any broodmare, past or
present, who would it
have been and why?
The influence of Eight Carat in
Australasia over the last two
decades has been immense.
Who do you most admire
in bloodstock and why?
I won’t name names but what I
do admire is anyone who backs
their judgement by setting up
their own enterprise. There are
few things more daunting than
working without a safety net.
What would you like to
see change in the
industry? The sport become
appreciated by a mainstream
audience. This must be a never-
ending goal for all guardians of
racing.
What is your ambition?
In the short-term it’s to work
towards ensuring more and
more mainland Chinese
experience the joys and
exhilaration of racehorse
ownership and elite racing.
Long-term, to be a successful
breeder and stallion owner.
Advice for a newcomer to
the business? Be open to
opportunities and advice. Most
importantly, go the extra mile
in everything you do.
Give us an ante-post bet​
I’m hopeful the China Horse
Club’s star mare First Seal will
have a big spring in Australia.
Possibly the Myer Classic could
be her race.
China Horse Club is
involved in several
partnerships – how did
they arise and what are
the benefits? Many of our
partnerships have grown from
us sharing similar ambitions to
break new ground.
Our independence, ability to
move quickly and growing
traction in the Chinese
marketplace appeals to many.
Partnerships only work when
both parties win and that is
what we work towards.
‘Teo Ah Khing is one
of the most unique
minds I’ve ever met’
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Continuing our series of questionnaires with figures from
the bloodstock industry. This week, Eden Harrington
Eden Harrington: endless
respect for John Magnier
A €170,000 SON of Big Bad Bob
took centre stage in the first
session of the Tattersalls Ireland
Derby Sale yesterday, as Bobby
O’Ryan saw off David Minton to
secure the well-related gelding.
Therewerefewersix-figurelots
and horses making €50,000 or
more than in 2014, and a smaller
number of horses offered meant
turnover dropped by 17 per cent
to a little more than €5.7 million.
The average of €42,322 did
represent a slight improvement
on last year, while the €37,000
median grew by seven per cent.
The session-topper, who cost
€20,000asafoal,isahalf-brother
to Paddy Power Gold Cup winner
Johns Spirit and The Game
Changer. David Minton did his
utmost to secure the three-year-
oldbutapersistentO’Ryanwould
not be denied.
“He’s very nice – he’s just a
cracking sort and I’ve bought him
for a long-established client to
stay in Ireland, although I’m not
sure where he’ll go into training,”
said O’Ryan. “He’s by a good sire
from an excellent family and he
looks the part, so let’s hope he’s
lucky.”
Busy day for Murphy
Unquestionablyoneofthebusiest
buyers yesterday was Aiden
Murphy and his spending was
topped by a €160,000 son of
Martaline. From Peter Nolan
Bloodstock, the gelding cost
€31,000 as a yearling and is a
half-brother to several smart
French-based jumpers.
Murphy’s spending also took
in a €100,000 son of Robin Des
Champs and he made the first
notablepurchaseofthesalewhen
paying€95,000forageldingfrom
the final crop of King’s Theatre.
“I’ve bought quite a few today
and the majority will be going to
England,includingtheMartaline,
the Robin Des Champs and the
King’s Theatre, and they will first
comebacktomyplaceinStratford
to be broken,” said Murphy.
First to six figures
The first lot to reach six figures
at this year’s sale was a €160,000
son of the late Stowaway who
hailed from famed nursery
Ballincurrig House Stud. Harold
Kirk, David Minton and Aiden
Murphy all tried to secure the
€32,000 foal purchase but it was
Anna Ross who had the final say.
“I’ve bought him for an existing
Irish client,” said Ross. “He’s a
gorgeous horse from a super
National Hunt family and, while
I still have a few to see, he looked
one of the best horses here.”
Husband in on the act
After his wife had secured the
€160,000 Stowaway, Kevin Ross
then splashed out €125,000 for
a son of Yeats who was providing
vendor Coolnagour House Stud
with a fine return on the €15,500
he cost as a foal.
“He’sjustarealathleteandhe’s
by a good and up-and-coming
sire. He’s been bought for Paul
and Clare Rooney,” said Ross.
Minton makes his mark
Minton did not get the session-
topper but he enjoyed better luck
when seeing off Ross Doyle for a
€125,000 Presenting gelding
from Redpender Stud who will
join Nicky Henderson.
“Nicky is going to train him for
Middleham Park Racing,” said
Minton. “They were looking for
ahigh-classjumperandthishorse
was in our top five of the day.”
vvLot-by-lot details, page 95
Ryan McElligott reports
from the Tattersalls
Ireland Derby Sale
First-season sires with runners today in GB and Ireland
Sire Progeny Race
Dick Turpin Mayfair Magic.....................................................Newbury 7.30
Lilbourne Lad Quick N Quirky..................................................Newcastle 2.10
Poet’s Voice Jintshi.....................................................Newmarket (July) 2.00
Poet’s Voice Princesses Voice...................................................Newbury 7.30
Zoffany Pinky Promise......................................................Newbury 7.30
Zoffany The Yellow Bus........................................... Leopardstown 5.50
Big Bad Bob gelding
on top at €170,000
The Big Bad Bob half-brother to Johns Spirit and The Game Changer sold for €170,000