News

Sacred Kingdom honoured in Hong Kong

17th Jul 2012

Former World Champion Sprinter Sacred Kingdom has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award and immortalised with the launch of a memorabilia publication in Hong Kong.

On Sunday, the final day of the 2011/12 Hong Kong racing season, the Hong Kong Jockey Club bestowed a lifetime achievement award on Sacred Kingdom. In recognition of the horse’s great contribution to Hong Kong as well as international racing, owner Mr Sin Kang Yuk was presented a trophy by Mr Brian Stevenson, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

Then on Monday night, in front of the HKJC's Head of Handicapping and Race Planning Nigel Gray, Club Stipendiary Stewards Steve Railton and Philip Dingwall, leading Hong Kong racehorse owners, Former Chairmen of Hong Kong Racing World Publications and other distinguished guests, Sacred Kingdom was immortalised with the launch of an 87 page memorabilia.

Compiled and published by Hong Kong Racing World Publications Ltd, the Sacred Kingdom Memorabilia contains form records, race diary and seven interview stories of the people related to the four-time Hong Kong Champion Sprinter; owner Sin Kang Yuk, trainer Ricky Yiu, jockeys Brett Prebble and Danny Nikolic, breeder Andy Calvert, Inglis Auctioneer Peter Heagney and also Clarry Conners, who broke in mighty galloper.

An auction of the first copy of the Sacred Kingdom Memorabilia was held during the publication’s launch, with HK$33,800 raised for the Hong Kong Riding For Disabled Association.

Inglis Asia Representative Peter Twomey was also on hand at Monday's event to present owner Mr Sin Kang Yuk with a trophy acknowledging his support and effort in the racing industry, especially with the achievements from Sacred Kingdom.

“Sacred Kingdom was a great ambassador for the Australian breeding industry, as he was ranked the world’s highest rated turf sprinter from December 2007 through the 2008 and 2009 world rankings until Black Caviar took over the crown in 2010,” said Twomey.

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities felt it appropriate to note in their 2009 World Rankings Press Release - "SACRED KINGDOM (AUS) [122] deserves special credit, as 2009 is the third consecutive year in which he has been assessed as either the clear top (in 2007) or the joint top sprinter (in 2008, along with Midnight Lute (USA)) in the world.”

“Sacred Kingdom showcased to the world his inherent toughness and durability to overcome two major injuries during his career, collecting Group 1 events in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, an amazing feat,” Twomey points out.

Bred by the Calvert Family and sold from their Kornong Stud Farm draft at the 2005 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale to trainer Ricky Yiu for A$200,000, Sacred Kingdom won a total of 17 races during his career and HK$45,831,144 in prizemoney.

The seven-time Group 1 winner was born in the sixth crop of Encosta de Lago, which finished the 2011/12 Hong Kong season as the leading sire by prizemoney thanks to 14 individual winners, including Group 1 winner Liberator.

“Encosta de Lago is without doubt the most successful Australian bred sire of all time,” says Colm Santry, Sales and Nominations Manager at Coolmore Australia.

“His progeny have won over A$118 million in prizemoney around the world; he’s sired eight individual Champions or divisional leaders, 20 Group 1 winners of over 40 Group 1 races and nearly 200 individual stakes performers.

“No stallion in Australasia can match his versatility – sprinters or stayers, colts or fillies, young or older horses, he’s sired top-class horses in every category and that’s a testament to his brilliance as a sire,” Santry adds.

The 2009/10 Hong Kong Horse of the Year, Sacred Kingdom retires back to Kornong Stud Farm in Victoria, where he was bred and raised, as Encosta de Lago’s leading racetrack performer.

Enthusiasts wishing to buy one of the 1,000 limited copies of the Sacred Kingdom Memorabilia can contact Ms Cheung at tsing605@yahoo.com.hk. For Australian clients the cost is A$35, including packing and delivery charge from Hong Kong to Australia.

Picture: Mr Sin Kang Yuk (owner of Sacred Kingdom) and Peter Twomey (Inglis Asia Representative)