Highview

7 August 2009

Q: Can you give us some background information on the Hong Kong Breeders Club?

A: The Hong Kong Breeders Club was launched four years ago with the goal of encouraging breeders in Hong Kong to enjoy breeding horses as a hobby as well as a profitable investment. The club's other co-founders include Richard Hui and Paul Kan and two other family groups. The club now has interests in about a dozen stallions worldwide and owns more than 100 broodmares. 

Q: Are you happy with Danroad’s start to his stud career?

A: Yes we are extremely thrilled with the fashion in which Danroad has commenced his stud career. He has become our flagship stallion and we are proud of his achievements.  From his first crop he has sired a Group 1 winner,  a Group 2 winner who was beaten by the barest of margins in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby and three other stakes performers. We have had some offers to purchase the horse but he will be remaining in New Zealand and stand at what I consider a very affordable price. I think it is fair to say that New Zealand stud farms have never charged outrageous fees. We have shares in many other stallions including major holdings in Starcraft, a 50 per cent interest in Towkay and a 35 per cent interest in Align.

Q: What commitment does the Hong Kong Breeders Club have to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry?

A: We have a large investment in the New Zealand bloodstock industry through our involvement in the Highview Stud farm and through stallions such as Align, Danroad and Towkay as well as a strong broodmare band. 

Q: How exciting is it to have a such an exciting son of Danroad as Down The Road to race in Hong Kong?

A: Yes, Danroad is really like part of our family and not only has Down The Road been imported to Hong Kong but he also has five other sons to race in Hong Kong next season. We are really looking forward to next season’s racing in Hong Kong with these progeny of Danroad and I am confident they will perform with distinction. We will be actively promoting any successes they have and this will create a niche market for his progeny much like that of Towkay in Hong Kong and Align in Singapore. I really believe the Asian markets are going to prove particularly important for the New Zealand breeding industry in future years. New Zealand horses have an outstanding record throughout Asia that can really be built upon.

Q: Where do you see the HKBC focussing its southern hemisphere broodmare band?

A: We are concentrating our southern hemisphere operation at Highview Stud in New Zealand which has seen us bring our five best broodmares from Australia across the Tasman. We also intend to bring some mares down from Ireland to New Zealand. These Northern Hemisphere-bred mares will visit Danroad, Align and Towkay.

Q: Why do you consider New Zealand as a suitable base for the upper end of your broodmare band?

A: I consider New Zealand to be the best breeding nursery in the world and of course it is the best situated for us to feed our home-bred stock into Hong Kong.

Q: Are you involved in the ownership of exciting galloper Down The Road in Hong Kong?

A: The Hong Kong Breeders Club were  lucky enough to have a permit available and the horse was imported to Hong Kong on that permit. The HKBC will race Down The Road in Hong Kong in partnership with prominent owner Derek Wong. Down The Road is out of quarantine and he looks terrific. The long range goal for him is the Hong Kong Derby next year and after his closest of seconds in the New Zealand Derby, Gr. 1, that looks the logical target.