The Hong Kong Jockey Club made their first investments at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka on Monday, purchasing two colts by Little Avondale Stud stallion Per Incanto.
The Wairarapa-based stallion has been the most prolific source of individual winners in Hong Kong for the past two seasons and the Hong Kong Jockey club’s southern hemisphere buying agent Craig Rounsefell was keen to stick to a proven formula.
Rounsefell went to $360,000 to secure a colt from Makkura from the Little Avondale Stud draft and later went to $400,000 for a colt out of six-time winner Petite en Jeu from the draft of Prima Park.
The former enjoyed a good pedigree update when his full brother Baby Crystal broke through at Sha Tin last week for trainer John Size.
“Per Incanto is high on the hit list of sires we’re looking to target,” Rounsefell said.
“We’re always looking in this sale, in particular, where there’s been some really nice ones. The two we’ve purchased we’re absolutely delighted with. They are the first two horses we’ve bid on during the sale and we’re fortunate to get them.”
Rounsefell said the colts had the attributes required to succeed in Hong Kong after securing the colt from Petite en Jeu.
“Their temperaments are good,” he said. “This guy had a beautiful temperament. Even out the back in the pre-parade, he handled it superbly. They’re very sound horses too and those two attributes take them a long way.”
Hong Kong interests were under-bidders on both of the Per Incanto colts and Rounsefell indicated the Jockey Club had further shopping to do.
“The better horses that do suit Hong Kong, there’s good competition on them,” he said.
“There’s more we’re looking at. We’ll regroup tonight and work out a plan for tomorrow.”
