Kiwi Cassidy narrowly avoids coronavirus lockdown in Wuha
Prominent Asian buyers expected at Inglis Classic despite worsening outbreak
A strong contingent of buyers from Hong Kong and mainland China are expected to attend the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale despite the outbreak of contravirus and the implementation of travel restrictions into Australia as a result of the potentially fatal condition.
In the wake of the viral emergency, predominantly in China, the federal government imposed a ban on people who have left or transited through mainland China from entering Australia.
Only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families are exempt from the protocols that have been recommended by the country’s chief medical officers in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.
More than 360 people were yesterday reported to have so far died after falling ill to coronavirus, surpassing the 349 killed during the SARS outbreak in the region in 2002 and 2003.
Expatriate New Zealander Quinton Cassidy, who is employed by owner Tao Gu as his trainer in mainland China, was yesterday at Inglis’ Riverside Stables in Sydney, inspecting yearlings ahead of Sunday’s opening session of the three-day sale.
Cassidy, who started his jockeys’ apprenticeship with Graeme Rogerson and later Keith Hawtin, is overseeing a stable of horses in training based at Wuhan Jockey Club, about 35 kilometres from Wuhan city centre.
Yesterday the trainer revealed that he was “very lucky to get out in time”, flying out of Wuhan just days before the city went into lockdown because of the outbreak.
“It’s very worrying but I speak to my staff daily and I keep up with all the news. They are doing a great job at the training centre,” Cassidy said.
“No one has been infected with the virus, which is good. Even the Wuhan Jockey Club has strict protocols in place for all the workers and they are doing everything right to stay safe and healthy.”
Fellow Chinese owner, Yulong founder Yuesheng Zhang, whose global racing and breeding interests include both Australia and mainland China, has also escaped exposure to coronavirus after he remained in Australia after last month’s Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast.
He is expected to be at Caulfield on Saturday to witness promising juvenile Fresh (Fastnet Rock) in Saturday’s Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (Gr 2, 1100m).
Inglis general manager of bloodstock sales and marketing Sebastian Hutch believes the company can offset any potential loss of buyers who might be forced to skip the sale due to the virus.
“It is probably hard to tell as to what extent (the coronavirus) will affect the sale, and we have had some people cancel as a consequence, but at this stage it doesn’t appear to be having a significant bearing, but it does have the potential to have at least some,” Hutch said yesterday.
“I don’t think there’d be an auction house who would ever say that they had enough buyers. You always want more, but we’ve got Jin (Tian) here already. Mr Gu is here with his trainer Quinton Cassidy and there will be strong Hong Kong representation at the sale.
“It would be wrong for us to ignore it as a factor, but we’re confident that we can mitigate any downside from it with other buyers.”
Tian, an Inglis bloodstock consultant, has also been liaising with Chinese owners in the lead-up to the Classic sale.
“We’re fortunate that Jin, our Chinese representative, has forged a strong relationship with a lot of Chinese investors. He has bought on behalf of these Chinese investors in the past and I expect him to continue to do so,” Hutch said.
“To be perfectly honest, there is a mandate to grow the (ownership) participation base, not just domestically but internationally as well, and China is a country that has shown a good appetite for (Australian thoroughbreds).”
Meanwhile, Cassidy expects to be active at the Classic sale as Gu expands his thoroughbred interests in China as well as both Australia and New Zealand.
“We are building a nice quality team and we are gradually growing,” Cassidy said.
“Not only are we acquiring horses for China, we are looking outside as well. Mr Gu will have horses in Australia and New Zealand and he will probably look at pinhooking a few.
“Mr Gu is going to be really involved in the industry and things are looking very promising for him.”
With the assistance of Cassidy, Gu bought two horses at last October’s Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale, including a $200,000 son of Headwater (Exceed And Excel), as well as the three lots at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale soon after.
A colt by Pins (Snippets), purchased from the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs in November, has also been sent to the stable of David Vandyke in Queensland, while Gu also has two horses in training with Matt Cumani at Ballarat.