Page 77 - Majestic V8
P. 77
Feature
T here are a few good horses, a large When the first weekend in May rolled around After her amazing racing
number of limited ones, a tiny group of in 2016, the CHC group, led by Chairman Teo career, Abel Tasman starts
great horses but, then, there is the elite Ah Khing, made their way to a very wet and rain a new chapter of her life as a
group of champions. Mythical creatures, sodden Churchill Downs, the hallowed ground
nearly impossible to find, hardly seen, horses that for the Kentucky Oaks and Derby, run each May broodmare
change lives and destiny. They rise, seemingly from under the famous Twin Spires towering over the 走过辉煌，“探险家”即将
nowhere, a flame burning bright and fast. A horse track. An iconic image, intrinsically associated
that lights up the tracks, has jockeys and trainers with the greatest days of the sport, the best of 步入繁育生涯
talking in hushed tones, on cold training mornings, the best, running for the famed Lilies and Rose
about the possibility of greatness surrounding them. garlands gifted to the classic race winners. It’s a MAjestic 75
pinnacle of the racing enthusiast to have a runner
Abel Tasman first came to our attention as a late in the Oaks or Derby, and to win is a crowning
two-year-old, when she strolled to a Grade 1 victory moment, regardless if you are the biggest or
in California in the Starlet Stakes. A close friendship smallest owner, a large farm owner, a Dubai
between our European Bloodstock Manager, Mick Sheikh, a tech or wine billionaire, or even a
Flanagan, and her owners, the Cleary brothers, China-based racing club trying to make its mark
Bernard and Eamon, of Clearsky Farm fame, on world racing.
allowed us to start a dialogue, negotiation and
subsequent sale of a 50% interest to China Horse A sea of colour, mostly pink, dominates Oaks Day,
Club International Limited of a quality filly. as the fashion levels are pushed to breaking point –
the rain cannot dampen Kentuckians’ enthusiasm
We thought we had purchased a filly that we for their biggest weekend. Our group joined the
could have some fun with in 2017, hopefully we festivities with 140,000 others crammed into various
could win some nice graded stakes races; if things viewing areas on both the inside and outside of the
went well, maybe a nice G1 and, perhaps, we would track, some first-time Chinese owners given a front
have a likely runner in the famed Kentucky Oaks. row seat and exposure to the best world racing has to
A transfer of trainer as an early three-year-old from offer. As a club, it’s what we are trying to achieve in
Simon Callaghan to the legend that is Bob Baffert, bringing new participants to this great sport, to show
a man who seems to be able to talk to his horses, to what they can be part of, a totally new experience
realise when to push and pull, to peak these fragile that can be shared with friends, family and business
athletes for the biggest days all over the vast expanse partners alike.
of the USA racing scene.
