News

Sacred Kingdom’s brother to sell in Melbourne

10th Nov 2011

The yearling brother of four-time Hong Kong Champion Sprinter SACRED KINGDOM has been confirmed for the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

The colt, by Champion sire Encosta de Lago from Zeditave mare Courtroom Sweetie, will be one of the headline acts of the impressive catalogue being compiled for Melbourne next February 27 to March 1.

A seven time Group 1 winner across Hong Kong and Singapore, Sacred Kingdom has been a fantastic ambassador for the Australian breeding industry on the world stage over the last five years, accumulating over HK$45million (A$5.7million) in prizemoney for his owner Mr Sin Kang Yuk.

Trainer Ricky Yiu purchased the champion from the draft of Kornong Stud Farm at the 2005 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, and the Calvert family will offer his brother under the same banner at Melbourne in 2012.

“We are delighted that Sacred Kingdom’s breeders, the Calvert Family, have chosen Melbourne as the place to sell one of the highlight yearlings born in Australasia”, Inglis Melbourne Bloodstock Director Peter Heagney said.

“Courtroom Sweetie has been a grand producer and it is very exciting to be able to offer her first foal by Encosta de Lago, and thus first full-sibling to Sacred Kingdom, since the Hong Kong great”, Heagney added.

Melbourne bloodstock consultant Mark Dodemaide inspected Sacred Kingdom’s brother in Victoria recently and was impressed with the colt.

“Kornong’s colt is a typical classy son of Encosta de Lago, with an intelligent head, great shoulder, barrel, stretch and with an overall good relaxed attitude. One of the best yearlings I have seen all year”, Dodemaide commented.

Sacred Kingdom is currently being prepared for a tilt at becoming the first horse to win the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint three times, after saluting in the feature event in 2007 and 2009.

“He is coming along nicely, and although eight years of age there is still plenty of spring in his legs, as shown last start when storming from last to finish second in the [Group 3] Sha Tin Sprint Trophy carrying top weight [133 pounds]”, Ricky Yiu commented today.

The top Hong Kong conditioner has been a regular at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for many years and is certainly excited about returning in 2012.

“I enjoy buying in Melbourne each year, and am very much looking forward to inspecting Sacred Kingdom’s brother at Inglis next year”, Yiu said.

The 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale will be held at Oaklands from February 27 to March 1 next year.