Hong Kong glory for he son of Ardrossan
It’s a big week in Hong Kong as the competitive jurisdiction gears up for the Hong Kong Derby this weekend – making the victory of Ardrossan’s son, Sunday’s Serenade, all the more impressive, with only elite-level horses claiming wins during such a prestigious lead-up.
Trained by Jamie Richards, the determined four-year-old surged along the rail to score by half a length under the urgings of Australian ex-pat jockey Brenton Avdulla.
Sunday Serenade’s full brother was sold by Kiltanton Stables at the 2024 NZB Ready To Run Sale for $240,000 to Hong Kong connections J & I Bloodstock/ Danny Chan.
From small crops, the young son of Redoute’s Choice is delivering big results both on the racetrack and in the sales ring. Ardrossan boasts a 9.7% stakes winners-to-runners strike rate, with winners across all three crops of racing age, including six stakes winners.
His yearlings have sold for up to A$260,000, and at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale, all five of his breeze-up horses sold – three to Hong Kong connections – with a top price of $250,000.
Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek
Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.
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The Corner with Garry Chittick
And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.
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