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.
The Corner with Garry Chittick
No Corner last week; this week the Annual Thoroughbred Racing Awards night certainly deserves acknowledgment. It is the second of two nights of measurement of Thoroughbred achievements for the year, with the first focussing on our Breeders’ awards.
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Savabeel’s Group 1 daughter Belle Cheval retired
Belle Cheval, by champion sire Savabeel, enjoyed a stellar career: placing in the NZ 1000 Guineas, winning the Almanzor Trophy and Uncle Remus Stakes, finishing second in The Kiwi, then claiming Group 1 glory in Australia’s Vinery Stud Stakes before retiring to broodmare duties.
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