An Australian-bred Zoustar (Northern Meteor) gelding has topped the 2023 Hong Kong International Sale, selling for HK$8.6 million on Friday.
Angela Yeung bought the sale topper, a son of the winning and stakes placed General Nediym (Nediym) mare Fortune Of War who has produced two winners to date headed by the stakes placed filly Spoils (Snitzel). This second dam is Pretty Penny (Encosta De Lago), dam of eight winners from as many foals to race headed by Group 2 winners Sertorius (Galileo) and Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau).
A $550,000 buy from the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the gelding had breezed in a time of 10.52 seconds for the final 200 metres.
Angela Yeung also purchased Lot 11, a Written Tycoon (Iglesia) gelding out the mare Lady Gracious (Redoute's Choice) for HK$5.6 million as well as Lot 3, a bay gelding by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) out of Solar Moon (Pivotal) for HK$2.6 million.
A total of 15 lots sold during the evening for a total return of HK$71.6 million, up from HK$71 million in 2022.
Danny Rolston, The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Manager, International Sale/Owners Advisory Services, said: "We've seen a really successful running of the Hong Kong International Sale for 2023. There was a record turnout of permit holders here to join in the event and we really feel like we've delivered on the client hospitality.
"We knew we had nice horses so we came into this knowing that the sale would be healthy and we put success of the sales results down to two things – and both relate to confidence."
The sale average rose to HK$4.77 million this year, up from HK$4.17 million in 2022.
"Primarily, the confidence in the Hong Kong racing is so high with the continued increased prize money and the motivation by owners to stay involved and replenish with these nice horses is really high and secondly the systems we've got in place with the Hong Kong International Sale," Mr Rolston said.
"We've seen a great year with the graduates on the track. Owners are really respecting the processes we've put in place in that we've been not only very selective but the processes we put them through with their education but, more importantly, the assessment we're putting on these horses.
"Even though we've had strong results across the board with the sale, we haven't necessarily really made any profit tonight – it's about bringing the best horses that we have, the soundest horses that we have and making them available to the owners here tonight and we feel that we've achieved that with the success of the sale today.
"This isn't the end of the road for us. It's only the halfway point. The winning post for us is out on the racecourse and that's where we really judge our success.
"The average is just a little over HK$4.7 million, so it is a slight increase on last year which, of course, makes us happy but most importantly is that we've put on a good event here for our owners and supplied them with some really high-quality horses."
The median sale price in 2022 was HK$3.6 million, while this year it finished at HK$4.4 million.
