At one of the industry’s most famed carnivals and under the gaze of a global television audience, China Horse Club was measured and rewarded.
The crucible of Britain’s annual Royal Ascot Carnival draws world class campaigners from England, Ireland, France, the United States, Japan and occasionally Australia as the industry’s most ambitious trainers and owners zero in on time honoured events with abundantly gifted performers.
It is one thing to target Royal Ascot. Quite another to walk away successful. To leave the six-day programme with success as an owner and a breeder from a total of only three representatives is a blessing in every sense.
In only its ninth year of operation, China Horse Club enjoyed a carnival to remember. In concert with Newgate Stud and partners, China Horse Club’s two runners, State of Rest and Artorius, were imperious while its graduate, Saffron Beach, explosive.
“Royal Ascot has always been one of China Horse Club’s most important goals. It is a carnival the world pays attention to so to win and to bring positive attention to the growing industry in China is very rewarding,” said Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of the China Horse Club.
“These results from our racing and breeding divisions are right up there with the 2018 U.S. Triple Crown success and last year’s Golden Slipper and Breeders’ Cup wins. To share moments like these with our partners and friends from around the world makes it all the more satisfying.”
State of Rest’s triumph in the GBP1,000,000 G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, arguably the premier race of the royal week, was historic. It also elevated him to the top of the leader board of the Cartier Awards which ordains Europe’s best racehorse.
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes was the fourth G1 win for State of Rest in his last five starts. His achievement in winning G1s in four different countries equalled a mark set by Godolphin’s globe-trotting champions of the 1990s, Singspiel and Fantastic Light, world champion mare Ouija Board (dam of Australia) and current star Mishriff It also moved him to within one G1 of equalling the tally of Falbrav who won G1s in Britain, Ireland, France, Italy and Hong Kong.
“State of Rest represents everything we love about horse racing,” Teo added.
“We hope he can continue building his international profile by taking up challenges in new countries and continuing this wonderful adventure.”
State of Rest’s heroics were almost double down upon with the enigmatic Artorius flashing home from last in the 24 strong GBP1,000,000 G1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes (1200m) to dead-heat for third. The China Horse Club colour-bearer was weighted as a four-year-old despite being three by Australian standards and he may well have challenged the winner had his searing run not been impeded at a vital stage inside the final 100m.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman trained colt will bid to improve upon that performance with next month’s GBP500,000 G1 July Cup now his immediate target before an intended return to Australia for a tilt at the AUD10,000,000 Golden Eagle in Sydney.
In 2022, success was not contained to the racing division alone. For the second time in as many years the capabilities of China Horse Club’s European breeding arm were franked with a winner over the royal carnival. The exceptional mare, Saffron Beach, returned from Dubai after her game fourth in the USD6,000,000 Dubai Turf to spreadeagle a quality field of mares in the G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes.
Post-race, Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam was ebullient and advised that America’s Breeders’ Cup is an end of season target for the powerfully made chestnut. Saffron Beach, already victorious in the 2021 G1 Sun Chariot Stakes, has been expertly handled and looked to have further improvement in her as the season progresses.
The daughter of boom stallion, New Bay, was one of two group winners for the Ballylinch based sire trained by Chapple-Hyam at Royal Ascot.