Coolmore celebrate impressive Derby double
Coolmore celebrated selling a second-successive Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) winner when Australian-bred Cap Ferrat (Snitzel) sprang a shock result in the lucrative contest at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The win sealed an impressive run in the lucrative race for Coolmore, with the operation having also sold last year’s winner Massive Sovereign (No Nay Never) to Hong Kong connections shortly after a handicap win at Leopardstown in September, 2023.
“To sell a pair of [Hong Kong] Derby winners back-to-back from Ireland and Australia, is some feat and one we are all proud of,” John Kennedy, racing and bloodstock manager at Coolmore Australia, told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“It just shows how global the bloodstock game is these days. When we are moving horses on who don’t fit our desired formula, it’s important for Coolmore that they go on and deliver for the new owners, and when it happens it’s very satisfying. We are a stallion-making organisation and anything that isn’t going to feature on our roster we’re very happy to sell them on to continue their careers in other parts of the world.
“We sold ten horses to Hong Kong last year, which is a lot, and we’d like to do the same again this year, if not more. We’re open for business.”
Tom Magnier purchased Cap Ferrat for $1.4 million from his breeders Arrowfield at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while Massive Sovereign was bought by MV Magnier at the 2021 Goffs Orby sale in Ireland for €620,000.
Originally trained by Chris Waller, Cap Ferrat raced with credit throughout his time in Australia and despite failing to break his maiden, he continuously performed well, finishing second in year’s Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and third in the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m), before Coolmore sold Cap Ferrat privately to his current owner Karen Lo.
Now based with reigning Hong Kong champion trainer Francis Lui, the four-year-old was having his fourth start in for new connections on Sunday, getting off the mark in impressive fashion when he defeated My Wish in a thrilling finish.
“Hong Kong is a very important marketplace for worldwide bloodstock and the owners and agents based there are willing to invest heavily into bloodstock from all around the world, so for us to get a horse [like] Cap Ferret flying the flag for Coolmore in Hong Kong is very special,” Kennedy said.
“He went down there with a very big wrap from us and it was great to see him deliver for the new owners.”
Royal Ascot winner Russian Emperor, a son of Galileo and Australian Group 1 winner Atlantic Jewel, was another Coolmore product sold privately to Hong Kong. He has subsequently won three top-flight wins in the jurisdiction including beating multiple Group 1-winning champion Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) in 2023.
Kennedy also reflected upon Wodeton’s (Wootton Bassett) second-placed effort in last Saturday’s Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), where the son of Coolmore’s shuttler Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) finished just 0.2 lengths off winner Marhoona (Snitzel).
“We were delighted with Wodeton’s run, but that left us more hungry to get the win and find the next Slipper winner,” he said.
That Slipper winner could be just around the corner, with the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Coolmore purchased Cap Ferrat in 2023, set to begin at Riverside Stables on April 6 and Kennedy revealed he is pleased with the draft Coolmore will be offering.
“It is a very exciting time of the year – our draft for Easter is lovely,” he said. “We have a nice mix of proven and first-season sires.
“The standout is probably the colt by Home Affairs out of Shout The Bar [Lot 158], he’s very special. He’s the first foal out of the mare and we’re absolutely thrilled with him.
“On top of that we have a couple of fillies from the Hips Don’t Lie / Learning To Fly family who will set the ring on fire.”