3 minute read

Australian Group One winner Melito is booked to be served by world champion sire Galileo in Ireland this year.

A dual G1 winner in Australia of the TJ Smith STakjes and Winter Stakes, Melito embarked on an international breeding career after the China Horse Club’s purchased a 25 percent share in the daughter of Redoute’s Choice.

"She's by a son of Danehill and everyone knows how successful the Galileo-Danehill cross has been," said China Horse Club’s bloodstock advisor Mick Flanagan.

"She was quick and is a very good looking mare. When you send Galileo a quick mare the resulting offspring could just change your life.

“We're doing the obvious and hopefully it works."

China Horse Club has also booked Fix, a multiple G2 winner in New Zealand, to be served by Galileo this year.

The Iffraaj mare was knocked down to Tom Magnier for A$1.25 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale last year with China Horse Club taking a 25 per cent share.

"She was a high class race mare," said Flanagan. "She's a gorgeous looker and went to Coolmore in preparation for her first cover."

China Horse Club, headed by chairman Teo Ah Khing, have acquired an enviable squad of broodmares, many owned in partnership with leading studs, in recent times in the northern hemisphere.

Tom Pennington of the Racing Post reports that Inca Princess, a Holy Roman Emperor eight-year-old responsible for last season's G1 Criterium International winner Johannes Vermeer, also heads back to his sire Galileo this year.

Classic-winning miler and Canadian G1 winner Just The Judge, who the China Horse Club owns with Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, will be covered by Dubawi.

The Lawman mare made 4.5 million guineas at Tattersalls in 2014 when Sheikh Fahad bought out the Sangster family before selling a 50 per cent share to the China Horse Club.

“She would be a fairly important cornerstone of the broodmare band for both camps and both principals have a bit of a soft spot for her so I wouldn't be surprised if her offspring were kept to race,” Flanagan said.

The China Horse Club also owns a 50 per cent stake in Muravka, the dam of G1-winning two-year-old The Wow Signal. She visits last year's champion first-season sire Zoffany in 2016.

Another mare destined for Zoffany is the G3 winner Ponty Acclaim, who was bought by the China Horse Club and Marlhill House Stud for 300,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in 2014.

China Horse Club has taken shares in boom sire Siyouni and have two mares slated to visit the Haras de Bonneval stallion in France.

They are Ultra Appeal, a daughter of Lawman who was bought by the CHC for 110,000gns at Tattersalls in 2014, and the Acclamation three-year-old Soteria, who was secured as a yearling for 300,000gns.

Dual Derby winner Australia, who Teo Ah Khing raced in partnership with Coolmore, will receive a number of the China Horse Club's mares again this year including Listed winner Thai Haku and Sugar House, a daughter of G1 winner Malibu Mint.

"The foals by Australia I've seen this year have been fantastic," said Flanagan.

“I'd have a lot of confidence breeding to Australia. He's all class, by a champion out of a champion, and I'd be very sweet on him.

"He has everything and his foals are measuring up pretty well."

The China Horse Club will also be supporting Triple Crown hero American Pharoah at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

They will be sending the Dixie Union mare Who Is Camille and Dundalk Dust, a daughter of the Danzig stallion Military, to the champion.