NZ Smashes Record at Hong Kong Sale

The weekend's Hong Kong International Sale proved incredibly successful for New Zealand breeders when one of the nine Kiwi entries topped the sale at HK$6 million.

The King's Best x Georgiana gelding fetched the record figure at the sale held at Sha Tin's new, HK$400 million, state-of-the-art sales complex on Saturday. This is the highest price ever paid to date for a King's Best yearling anywhere in the world, and smashes the HK International Sale's previous record of HK$4.8m.

New Zealand Bloodstock's International Bloodstock Agent, John Cameron, selected the horse at the 2004 Karaka Yearling Sales where he paid NZ$360,000 to purchase him from the Pencarrow Stud draft.

Georgiana is the dam of Gr. 1 placed Vega Sicilia and the well-performed Macchiato and Filante Etoile. She is a half-sister to multiple Gr. 1 winner Star Dancer. This is also the family of Gr. 1 winners Naturalism and Crystal Palace.

Cameron, who is in currently in Hong Kong canvassing support for the 2005 National Yearling Sales Series, said that the horse breezed up beautifully before the sale.

Paul O'Sullivan had recommended the colt to first time owner Mr Shun So who is managing director of Ki Mee Kitchenware. He will now be one of the trainers under consideration to prepare him for racing in Hong Kong.

Cameron said much of the credit for the big sale must go to Bruce and Maureen Harvey of New Zealand's Ascot Farm who broke the gelding in, educated him and developed him in readiness for the trip to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong International Sale offered 19 yearlings, including the nine entries from New Zealand, and the aggregate was $HK43 million, representing an average of $HK2,263,158.

The other eight New Zealand yearlings were: Deputy Governor-Georgia g $HK1.2 million, Cape Cross-Cladagh g $HK1.2 million, O'Reilly-Herbaceous g $HK1.2 million, Montjeu-Madonna g $HK3.5 million, Stravinsky-Sneetch g $HK2.2 million, Volksraad-Kape Dancer g $HK2.2 million, Danasinga-Kentucky Lass g $HK2 million, Testa Rossa-Encantada g $HK1.4 million.