On behalf of Australia’s breeders, Aushorse Marketing is delighted to announce a prestigious new award for the highest performing Australian-bred Thoroughbred in Hong Kong. The Aushorse Marketing Australian-bred Hong Kong Champion Award will be announced on the 11th of September at a gala event held in conjunction with the VRC’s 150 year celebration of the Melbourne Cup. The final contenders are Sacred Kingdom, Happy Zero and One World which have won world acclaim with their outstanding feats. The award, aimed at recognising the feats of Aussie-breds in one of the most fiercely competitive racing centres in the world, will be judged by the Board of Aushorse Marketing.
Australian horses have dominated racing in Hong Kong for many years. One of the major achievements is their undefeated record in the Group 1 HK International Sprint since the first running of the race in 1999. More than 40 percent of the horses currently racing in Hong Kong are bred in Australia. “Australian-bred horses have such an imposing record in Hong Kong that we believe it is important to recognise these feats and the people behind such great horses,” said Aushorse Marketing Chairman Antony Thompson. One World and Happy Zero, both trained by John Moore have had success not only locally but also on the international stage. One World, owned by Jackson So Hoi Wing placed second in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and third in the Group1 Meydan Dubai Golden Shaheen Stakes (1200m) with his prizemoney now over the A$2Million mark. Happy Zero, owned by David Boehm, has a career to date of 14 starts and 8 wins which has earned him over A$1.3Million. Last season saw him win the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), the Group 2 Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trail and the Group 3 Sha Tin Sprint Trophy. Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Awards recently, Sacred Kingdom, is a three-time Group One winner last season. Trained by Ricky Yiu and owned by Sin Kang Yuk, Sacred Kingdom won the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), The Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup (1000m) and The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). His earnings now reaching over A$3Million.
The winning owner(s) and trainer of the 2010 Aushorse Marketing Australian-bred Champion award will be presented with a unique cold cast bronze statuettes from renowned Australian artist Mary Pinsent. “Sacred Kingdom, Happy Zero and One World represent the best of Hong Kong and international racing and Australia is proud to have bred them and to have watched them develop into champions able to take on and beat the world’s best,” Antony Thompson said.
Contact:
Peter McGauran – Aushorse CEO
+61 (0) 408 483 491
