NEWS
Black Mamba sells for $1.5-million;
headed to Hong Kong
Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:52 PM
by Pete Denk
Grade 1 winner Black Mamba (NZ) will be pointed for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) at Sha Tin on December 9 after selling for $1.5-million on Tuesday night at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky selected fall mixed sale.
Tony Bott of Evergreen Farm, located outside of Sydney, Australia, bought the six-year-old Black Minnaloushe mare on behalf of Hong Kong client Mr. P.K. Siu.
“It’s a big attraction for [Mr. Siu] to see his horse race in Hong Kong,” Bott said. “Win, lose, or draw in Hong Kong, we’ll then take her back to Australia and she’ll be bred in the Southern Hemisphere next year.”
Black Mamba has been based in Southern California with trainer John Sadler for Doubledown Stables since coming to America from New Zealand in mid-2007. She has won seven of 30 starts, including the 2008 John C. Mabee Handicap (G1) at Del Mar, and earned $980,763.
Bott said in addition to specifically wanting a horse to race in Hong Kong, favorable exchange rates led him to the fall breeding stock sales in America this year.
“Our dollar is as strong as it’s ever been against your dollar in many, many years, and that helps,” Bott said. “To be honest, our economy is not in as much trouble as America has been in recently. Therefore, we expected the market to be a little off. Although from what I saw today at Keeneland and here, it’s not off that much. There should be a lot of happy vendors, particularly for the quality offerings.”
Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned Black Mamba, who is out of New Zealand Group 1 winner Sneetch, by Grosvenor.
Pete Denk is sales editor of Thoroughbred Times
