Written by Alan Carasso
In this ongoing series, we take a look at Australasian-bred horses down to make their initial starts in Hong Kong - horses either unraced (PPG-privately purchased griffins) or previously raced in Australia and New Zealand (PP-private purchases) – in addition to progressive horses returning from a spell.
The horses listed below have been selected based on notable pedigrees, sales history and/or previous racetrack performances.
R1-Lei Muk Shue H. (C4), HK$967K (AU$189k), 1000m
Decisive Twelve
(g, 3, All Too Hard x Kamarla Rose, by Nadeem)
Decisive Twelve is the latest produced from a winning sister to Sharnee Rose, a dual Group 3 winner and third to Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock) and Mosheen (Fastnet Rock) in the 2011 G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. The October foal’s stakes-winning third dam Asawir (Last Tycoon {Ire}) was a half-sister to Snippets and produced the dam of G1 Sir Rupert Clarke winner Rewaaya (NZ) (Singspiel {Ire}).
Watch: Decisive Twelve breezes 10.77s at the Inglis Ready2Race
A $100,000 graduate of the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, the brown gelding breezed up 200 metres in 10.77s and fetched $260,000 at that year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale. Decisive Twelve’s yearling half-brother by Pride Of Dubai is cataloged as Lot 231 during Sunday’s opening session of the Melbourne Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction.
Decisive Twelve as a yearling
Breeder: J Allis (Vic)
Consignor: Noorilim Park, agent (INGMAR); Stonehouse Thoroughbreds, agent (INGRTR)
Purchaser: Smart Racing Stables (INGMAR); Rick Wylie Bloodstock/C So
R4-Shek Lei H. (C4), HK$967K (AU$189k), 1200m
Beluga (NZ)
(g, 3, Tavistock {NZ} x Prestigious Miss, by Written Tycoon)
A NZ$150,000 Karaka yearling purchase by Riversley Park in conjunction with the US-based Kirkwood Stables (Kip Elser), Joe Miller and Justin Casse, Beluga took his spot in the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale some 10 months later and looked spectacular in his under-tack preview before hammering for NZ$400,000.
WATCH: Beluga clocks 10.45s at NZBRTR
The bay is the second foal for his multiple Group-placed dam, a half-sister to New Zealand Group 3 winner Cassini (Reset) and hails from the family of 1997 Hong Kong Classic Trial hero Smart Kid (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}). Beluga has won his two most recent trials, first over 1000 metres at Sha Tin and going 1200 metres at Happy Valley and looks a serious chance on debut.
Beluga (NZ) as a 2-year-old
Breeder: Mattrans Pty Ltd (Vic)
Consignor: Curraghmore, agent (NZBJAN); Riversley Park, agent (NZBRTR)
Purchaser: Riversley Park/Kirkwood USA/J Miller/J Casse (NZBRTR); John Foote Bloodstock (NZBRTR)
