Date posted August 18, 2010 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Press Releases,
Racing and BreedingAustralia topped the world for producing Group 1 winners in the most number of countries with Australian-breds successful in seven countries with a massive total of 70 Group 1s.
Australia claimed Group 1 success internationally in Great Britain, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and New Zealand.
Australian-bred horses dominate in their own country having won 56 races at the highest level, with New Zealand the closest behind with 11.
“This remarkable achievement underlines both the excellence of Australian breeders and the importance of international trade to the industry,” Aushorse Marketing Chairman Antony Thompson said.
Speed king, Sacred Kingdom
“Australia’s integration into the global marketplace is testimony to the outward looking approach of the industry which sees it breed horses that are fast, adaptable and tough at a competitive price able to win at the highest level in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.”
Starspangledbanner made history by becoming the first Australian horse to win the July Cup in 2010, following an outstanding victory in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes a month earlier.
In Japan, Kinshasa No Kiseki rose to the highest level when narrowly winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen earlier in the year. Kinshasa No Kiseki is the winner of 10 races and has earned more than $A6.5million in prizemoney.
One of Australian breeding’s best exports, Sacred Kingdom stretched his dominance as the world’s top rated sprinter into a third season when winning the G1 Hong Kong International Sprint. This took his winning tally to 15 and yields a total of $A6.4million with him showing no signs of slowing, even as a six-year-old.
Happy Zero lowered the colours of Sacred Kingdom when winning the G2 HK Sprint Trial before running a close second in the G1 HK International Mile at his next start. His time in the Group 1 spotlight came in March this year when winning the Silver Jubilee Cup, registering as his eighth win and bringing his earnings to top $A2.2million.
Rocket Man continues to lead the Australian contingent in Singapore with his prizemoney rising to $A1.6million when taking the Lion City Cup for the second year in succession.
Another Australian-bred headlining in Singapore, Better Than Ever took his record to a perfect nine from nine when dominating the Singapore Guineas. In his short career, Better Than Ever has accumulated $A742, 000.
Gold Trail has been one of Australia’s most consistent sprinters, with wins including the G2 AJC The Shorts before taking on and beating New Zealand’s best in the G1 Railway Handicap.
Mahbooba is yet another success story in South Africa for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum from his Australian breeding investment. The Galileo filly followed Musir in becoming a South African Group 1 winner when she easily took the lead at the Golden Slipper in July.
Happy Archer gave Queensland breeder Kevin Dixon international Group 1 success when taking the Durban Thekwini Stakes for two-year-old fillies, her third straight win.
Katie Lee is the dominant three-year-old filly in New Zealand, winning both the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas against the colts and geldings before adding the NZ One Thousand Guineas to her feats, both at Group 1 level.
“Innovation and investment is the key to the success of Australian-breds around the globe which continues to highlight the potential and strength of the Australian breeding industry to overseas buyers.” Thompson concluded.
