Ric Wylie is a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s buying team and was at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale at the Riverside Stables on Monday for other high-profile Asian owners.
“We’re using the same set of eyes and skills that we do for the ISG (International Sale Griffin) horses,” Wylie explained.
They are predominantly purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club at sales in Australia and Europe.
“I’m 40 years a farmer of horses and the club uses me to assess conformation, how horses have developed and if there is more development potential in them.”
Hong Kong appeal
Wylie was hoping to fill an order for Kerm Din, also present at the sale, who races the Tony Cruz-trained multiple Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (GER) (Shamardal {USA}).
“He’s had so much success buying and there’s one permit for the family so he thought he would come to Sydney.”- Ric Wylie.
“He’s had so much success buying and there’s one permit for the family so he thought he would come to Sydney,” Wylie said.
Ric Wylie with wife Robyn
Din said he had enjoyed his first visit to Sydney and was keen to return.
“I thought I would get some experience and come and have a look. It’s very interesting and I like Australian horses for Hong Kong, they get used to it quickly.
“In the future I will buy some horses and have them trained in Sydney, Tommy Berry is a very good friend of mine.”
“In the future I will buy some horses and have them trained in Sydney, Tommy Berry is a very good friend of mine.” – Kerm Din.
Berry rode Pakistan Star to victory in the G1 Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin. Din hasn’t ruled out Pakistan Star competing in Australia, if current quarantine regulations with Hong Kong can be relaxed.
“I would love to race Pakistan Star in Australia. I hope in the future the authorities can get together and sort it all out,” said Din. He was present at Randwick last Saturday for The Everest, a race he has ambitions to win.
“The box we had was so beautiful and I did win a lot of money. I put all my money on Tommy Berry (who rode two winners and placed third in The Everest on Osborne Bulls)."
Pakistan Star
A Hong Kong education
Din has formed a strong association with Wylie, who learned his craft with one of Hong Kong’s very best.
“For 10 years I bought and traded for Ivan Allen, the champion trainer, and he taught me what works and what doesn’t work in Hong Kong.” – Ric Wylie.
“For 10 years I bought and traded for Ivan Allan, the champion trainer, and he taught me what works and what doesn’t work in Hong Kong,” he said.
“As we know, it’s a great racing atmosphere, but with that are unique training facilities and you need a certain type of horse to stand the test of time and give owners three, four and five years of racing.
“When Mr Din bought Pakistan Star and Pakistan Friend they had a particular permit that suited the ISG Sale. This permit is for another member of the family so he came down to see if he could find the right horse.
“At the moment we haven’t found one for him, but we have found one for Mr Yap and a group of 12 doctors that raced a horse called Disciples Twelve with Caspar Fownes.
“This horse will get a little bit more education with Rick Worthington and he’ll go up to trainer Chris So in the next nine months.” – Ric Wylie.
“The horse has just been retired and they’ve got a new permit. This horse will get a little bit more education with Rick Worthington and he’ll go up to trainer Chris So in the next nine months.”
Eye-catching All Too Hard colt
The 2-year-old Wylie secured for $260,000 was Lot 95, a colt by All Too Hard out of the winning Nadeem mare Kharli Rose offered by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds.
The dam is a sister to the G3 Golden Pendant winner Sharnee Rose and the leading stallion family of Snippets (Canny Lad) and Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice).
“He’s a horse with a lovely stride on him, he was very sensible in his breeze and did it very easily,” Wylie said.
“He’s got tidy bone and a very intelligent presence about him.” – Ric Wylie.
“He’s got tidy bone and a very intelligent presence about him. He vetted extremely well to strict Hong Kong standards.”
Lot 95 (inside) All Too hard x Karmala Rose colt
Wylie also gave full credit to Inglis for trading in the 2-year-old market.
“Full credit to Inglis for having a go in a very difficult market. In Australia you can run for $120,000 on a Saturday so if you spend $60,000 or $80,000 on a yearling you’re not going to take $120,000 in a market like this.
“In New Zealand, we have to sell because we’re racing for only $20,000 sometimes on a Saturday.”
