China Horse Club Produces Another Sire

Strasbourg as a yearling

Strasbourg as a yearling (Inglis)

 

Exciting youngster, Strasbourg, was always only going to be one good run away from a busy life after racing.

That good run unfolded at Eagle Farm on Saturday when the China Horse Club liveried colt fought on strongly for a gallant victory in the Group Two BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m. Adding much merit to the win was the attention given by rising star and race favourite, Accession, who flew home to grab second.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Strasbourg will now target the $600,000 JJ Atkins Stakes over 1600m at Eagle Farm on 8 June, the final Group One for 2YOs this season.

Success over the ‘mile’ would see Strasbourg’s value continue to soar, particularly as the Atkins was the juvenile ‘launching pad’ for last year’s winner, The Autumn Sun: recently retired to stud at a fee of $77,000.

(Widden Stud’s Champion First Season Sire, Zoustar, won the 2013 BRC Sires’ Produce before running second in the Atkins. His fee in 2019 … $154,000).

What’s more, the other two placegetters in Saturday’s BRC Sires’ Produce have also aided and abetted Strasbourg’s cause, given that first and third are by super sire, I Am Invincible, while the runnerup is a son of Brazen Beau, a leading first crop sire by … I Am Invincible.

Strasbourg becomes the 47th stakes winner for I Am Invincible, whose 28 winners of 36 black type races this season is an Australian record, while the addition of a solid black type family makes the colt’s yearling sale price of $750,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale appear a real bargain.

China Horse Club’s Michael Wallace was certainly a happy camper following Saturday’s Group Two given that he had purchased Strasbourg – in tandem with Newgate Farm and WinStar – from the Yarraman Park draft.

“He (Strasbourg) was a lovely type of colt from the get go – hence the price,” Wallace points out. “After winning on debut and running second to Accession in the ($500,000) Inglis Nursery last December, the Sydney tracks in the autumn really didn’t suit him,” Wallace points out, “and he had no luck at all when second to Dubious two weeks ago in the (Group Two) Champagne Classic.

“We knew he had plenty of ability and that the writing was on the wall, but it was great to see him get that one away on Saturday.

“Hopefully he can add the Atkins to the CV and he’ll possibly target races like the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas in the spring.”

Established by Teo Ah Khing six years ago, China Horse Club has been represented by over 500 winners world wide – 31 at Group One level – which include 2018 Triple Crown hero, Justify, and, in Australia, Group One winning sprinter and sire, Russian Revolution.

With 65 racehorses and some 90 broodmares, China Horse Club has purchased 25 yearlings in 2019: including two I Am Invincible colts for $900,000 apiece.

Not surprisingly, Newgate Farm’s Henry Field was thrilled with Strasbourg’s victory, particularly given his Hunter Valley nursery will eventually stand the horse.

“Both Michael (Wallace) and I thought he was an outstanding type at Easter and, while that doesn’t always translate to racetrack success (if only it was that easy!) that was an important win in the Sires’ Produce,” Field enthused.

With Field and his Newgate team gearing up to sell 68 fillies and mares at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from Tuesday, he was quick to emphasise the importance of the relationship between Newgate, China Horse Club, WinStar Farm, SF Bloodstock and Matthew Sandblom … especially as the Gold Coast draft includes eight mares in foal to Russian Revolution!

“We all work closely together and Australia has proven over and over again that there is far greater value in purchasing well bred colts here, plus there is so much more upside when the top performers retire from the track,” Field explains. “Australian prizemoney has gone through the roof in the last 10 years (increased by 84%), but stakes aside, a Group One victory would add millions to Strasbourg’s residual value.

“Indeed, an Atkins victory would see him become the first 2YO Group One winner for I Am Invincible and we’d look forward to him joining our I Am Invincible stallion, Super One, who was a Champion 2YO in Singapore.”

HOOFNOTE: For further information on why #ItPaysToBuyAustralian check out the Aushorse Investor’s Guide – ow.ly/NMKk50uoDHu

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