Sunday, 15 June 2008
The Hong Kong Breeders' Club has once again demonstrated its commitment to the New Zealand breeding industry by resisting an offer from an Australian stud to purchase up-and-coming sire Danroad.
The sire of last week's Gr. 1 T J Smith Classic winner Rockdale, Danroad stands at Highview Stud in New Zealand. He is owned by the Hong Kong Breeders Club which has a very strong involvement in the New Zealand breeding industry. Hong Kong Breeders Club principal Peter Yip said Danroad was attracting plenty of interest since Rockdale's win. "The offer from the Australian stud came soon after Rockdale won the last Group 1 race held in Australasia for the season. But we are committed to him continuing to stand at stud in New Zealand for the long term," Yip said.
"He looks set to receive his best-ever book of mares this year at stud," Yip said. "We have a group of breeders who are involved in the breeding industry for the long term and we are committed to our interests in New Zealand," Yip said. "It is important that Danroad remains available to breeders in New Zealand and the Hong Kong Breeders Club recognizes this," he said. Danroad is the latest Danehill stallion to sire a Group 1 winner and Rockdale is in fact his first stakes winner.
Danroad is from the good producer Strawberry Girl (by Strawberry Road), who is also the dam of stakes winners Newtown Jet and Tippitaka.
Danroad, who was bought as a yearling from the 2001 Magic Millions sales on the Gold Coast for A$440,000, was the second highest rated two-year-old in New Zealand of his year, winning at Group 2 level and placing in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.
The Hong Kong Breeders Club also has a 50 per cent ownership interest in Little Avondale Stud sire Towkay as well as a one-third share in Align, who stands alongside Danroad at Highview Stud, near Hamilton. Both Towkay, who is the sire of Hong Kong star Armada, and Align, who is the sire of successive champion NZ 2yo colts Nightlign and Fully Fledged, were also at a point of heading to overseas studs when the HKBC stepped in and purchased a significant ownership interest which ensured the promising stallions remained at stud in New Zealand. The HKBC has recognized the deeds of Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan in breeding Monday's Gr. 1 A$505,000 T J Smith Classic winner Rockdale. Logan has been donated a free service for one of her broodmares to Danroad.
"Breeding a Group 1 winner is a very special achievement but to receive this service from the Hong Kong Breeders Club has made it even more satisfying and is a lovely gesture," said Logan. Komplete Kaos, a winner of four races and twice Group placed, went to Singapore after a half-share was sold in her but when she met an injury problem she returned to New Zealand to Logan's care.
Rockdale was the first foal bred from Komplete Kaos and he was born at Java Lodge, Matamata. Logan recalled Rockdale as a very strong upstanding foal who had plenty of appeal to yearling buyers. He was sold for $55,000. Logan said she would consider sending Komplete Kaos back to Danroad this spring. "I have about 10 broodmares so I will certainly be sending one of my mares to Danroad this year," she said. Logan has had plenty of joy with progeny of Highview Stud-based sires in her racing stable in the past. She trained the Gr. 2 winner, Focal Point, who was by Highview Stud sire Kashani, while her smart 3yo this season, Align To Afinity (an early favourite for the NZ Derby), is by another Highview Stud sire, Align.
