Impressive debut winner Refusetobeenglish(NZ) (Churchill) will continue his racing career in Hong Kong after confirmation on Thursday he has been sold for an undisclosed sum.
A new Hong Kong-based trainer is yet to be named for the three-year-old son of Churchill, who was heavily backed on debut at Cranbourne last month before he strode away for a three-and-a-half-length victory.
Bloodstock expert Shane McGrath, who purchased Refusetobeenglish out of a two-year-old ready to run sale for $120,000, confirmed the private sale, with plans for the horse to soon enter quarantine for his trip to Hong Kong.
McGrath also played a large part in the purchase for just $47,500 of Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi, who is recovering from a serious hoof ailment that almost took her life. He said her prospects of a racetrack return had improved in recent weeks.
“In another month, we’ll get her back in,” he said. “There’s no reason why she wouldn’t (get back to the races) but we’ll have a good look at her in four-to-six weeks and decide whether we sell her, breed with her or race her on.”
McGrath also purchased and races three-year-old Stanley Express, who won the Showdown on debut before things didn’t go right for him during the spring.
“He’s just come back into pre-training,” McGrath said. “He had a setback at Moonee Valley and that was it for the spring, which was a shame because we thought he was a Coolmore (Stud Stakes) horse.
“We haven’t lost faith in his ability, but just the prep didn’t work for him.”
McGrath said another three-year-old filly he purchased as a yearling, Vestas, is being aimed at the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast next month.