A striking half-brother to prolific Listed Australian winner Zoustyle has sold for a sale-topping bid of HK$5 million at the Hong Kong International Sale at the Sha Tin Parade Ring on Sunday, 27 June, as all 16 lots offered for sold for a total of HK$47.2 million.

The chestnut gelding, catalogued as Lot 14, is by leading Australian sire Sebring, whose Hong Kong stock include Aethero and Lucky Bubbles, out of Anabaa mare Fashion, a winner at two over 1400m in Germany.

The two-year-old, whose sibling Zoustar has won seven of 11 starts in Australia, was sold to Harry Tsang Cheung Hin.

Trainer Tony Cruz is confident of early progress from the imposing gelding: “I think we will get results very quickly with this horse, he’s a good-looking horse.”

Peter Lau Pak Fai, owner of Romantic Combo, went to HK$4.8 million for Lot 9, an Acclamation gelding out of Street Cry mare Folk Melody, who has already produced two winning foals – Pennywhistle and Melodic Charm – in Great Britain.

Two other geldings drew HK$3.8 million: Lot 13, a Mastercraftsman half-brother to four individual winners, and Lot 20, a son of Street Boss out of Fusaichi Pegasus mare Sachariste, the dam of winning Australian performers Can’t Remember and Head Noises.

Mr. William Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Director of Racing Business and Operations, said: “I thought the horses were well presented today and I thought a couple in particular looked outstanding, so I was very pleased.”

The sale average was HK$2.95 million while the median reached HK$2.8 million.

“We have had some great horses come out of the Sale in the past and hopefully a few will come out of this Sale and do really well for us, for Hong Kong and for our owners, so overall I would say this is a big success and we’re very happy with the outcome,” Mr. Nader said.