A New Zealand-bred son of Exceed And Excel topped the Hong Kong International Sale when fetching HK$5.7 million (AUD 803,515) on Saturday.

Owner Tung Moon Fai signed for the gelding who was originally purchased at the NZ Bloodstock yearling sale for NZ$350,000.  Mr Tung also purchased the G2 Hong Kong Derby Trial winner Unique Jewellery (O’Reilly) at this same auction three years ago.

The gelding is a half-brother to the winners Rockadubai (Fastnet Rock) and Oscillator (Red Ransom).  His dam Dubai Express (Zabeel) is a half-sister to stakes winners Lady Dehere (Dehere), Discorsi (Galileo) and Oratorio (Stravinsky) who is making a name for himself at Mungrup Stud in WA.

An Encosta de Lago colt out of the Irish stakes-winner Miss Helga (Alzao) realised HK$5 million (AUD 705,200).  He was also sold at Karaka earlier this year for NZ$360,000.  He is a brother to the stakes-placed Pink Siris) a sister to Canadian group 3 winner Alexis and Listed stakes-winner Freshwater Pearl.

Also bringing HK$5 million was an Anabaa gelding, purchase by Choi Lip Leung Joseph.  The gelding was purchased at the Inglis Premier Yearling sale for $190,000.  His dam Investment Yield is a half-sister to the slick sprinter Chester County (Hennessy), winner of the Listed Razor Sharp Hcp at Randwick.

An Irish bred son of Danehill Dancer also bought HK$5 million to the bid of Lee Ching Yiu.  Purchased at the Arqana Deauville Yearling sale for 120,000 euros, the gelding is a brother to the Irish stakes-winner Latin Love.  His dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Cerulean Sky and Moonstone.

The sale grossed HK$70.4 million (AUD 9.93 million) for 19 lots which was down on last year’s turnover when 30 lots went through the ring.  The average of HK$3.7 million (AUD 522,000) was up 28% on 2008.

The HKJC originally bought 36 horses for the sale, but offered only 19 for auction following rigorous veterinary monitoring to ensure owners acquire horses that are sound and physically robust before they embark on their Hong Kong racing careers.

“The reduced number of lots coupled with a favourable economy locally contributed to the overall higher average,” HKJC Executive Director of Racing William Nader said.  “I think prices were realistic, given the quality of horses and past results from recent sales.”