HK$5.4 million for Dundeel son at International Sale

Friday evening’s buoyant 2026 Hong Kong International Sale of 3YO geldings included a racy son of Dundeel sold to Austin Miu for HK$5.4 million (A$991,026), the third-highest price of the sale. 

Bred by Mrs A. Freedman, he was a $440,000 purchase by the HKJC from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.

He is out of Ain’t She Smart (by Smart Missile from Ain’tnofallenstar) which makes him a 3/4 brother to two talented performers by Dundeel: the very consistent multiple Hong Kong winner Silvery Breeze; and Ain’tnodeeldun, whose multiple stakes-winning career would have been more extensive without the serious injury he suffered as a 3YO.

Arrowfield was home to the gelding’s third dam, the wonderful broodmare Ain’t Seen Nothin’, whose three stakeswinners included Singapore Horse of the Year Stepitup. Her daughter Star Pupil (by Starcraft) is now one of the Stud’s most valuable mares, as the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Lady Shenandoah & Hong Kong Group 1 winner, now sire Stronger. 

Arrowfield’s influence is also evident in the pedigree of the Sale’s top-priced lot, a son of Deep Field from the city-winning Arrowfield-bred mare Hussterical, by Group 1 sire Beneteau whose death after siring only two crops remains a keenly felt loss.

A $300,000 Magic Millions buy from Eureka Stud, the gelding was purchased by Alan Hu for HK$9.2 million (A$1,688,414).

Another Arrowfield graduate, Group 2 winner Honorine (by Redoute’s Choice) is the dam of a third lot at the Sale. One of two South African horses in the catalogue, he’s by Champion Sire Gimmethegreenlight (by More Than Ready) and was knocked down to Tang Kin Nam for HK$3.8 million (A$697,388). 

The Hong Kong Sale recorded a median price of HK$4.6 million for the 16 lots sold, well above last year’s figure of HK$2.6 million. Danny Rolston, HKJC Executive Manager, International Sale/Owners Advisory Services offered several reasons for that rise.

“I think we’ve got a few factors right this year. But the message which comes out of today is the owner’s appetite for horse ownership in Hong Kong is really responding well to the bonus structure, increases in prize money and the initiatives the Club is putting into place.

“The first key indicator we saw towards having a good sale was the large increase in ballot applications this year. So, with a higher application rate for the ballot, more permits in the market and having the sale after the ballot this year – I think we had all of the ingredients right for a good sale.

He aded, “This is only part of the journey; it’s taken us two years with these horses to get here and we’ve only sold around 50% of the horses we bought in that year…We only want to bring the absolute best horses, the soundest horses, and the horses with the most ability and the best temperaments to the market. I think we did that today with a really reinvigorated appetite for ownership.”