Exciting Zoffany 2YO Sold to Hong Kong

Brilliant Flemington 2-year-old winner Southerly Wind will do his future racing in Hong Kong following a successful series of negotiations conducted by Dave Mee of Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA).

A 2-year-old son of boom Coolmore sire Zoffany (GB), Southerly Wind created a huge impression with a debut victory at Flemington in mid-June when leading throughout the contest before crossing the finishing line fully three lengths clear of his nearest rival.

Not seen in public before or since his emphatic Flemington victory, Southerly Wind was the medium of considerable support — $10 in to $2.60 favourite — before his maiden success and came on the radar of Mee immediately afterwards.

In confirming the successful purchase of Southerly Wind on behalf Hong Kong clients, Mee said that the quality of the youngster’s victory was one of a number of key factors that made the colt’s sale possible.

“We are delighted to secure Southerly Wind as he produced some impressive sectionals against a decent field when winning stylishly on debut down the straight at Flemington,” explained Mee.

“Revised import criteria, implemented by the HKJC 12 months ago, has changed the landscape in terms of the quality of horse qualified for export to Hong Kong, but Southerly Wind fitted the bill perfectly.”

Mee continued: “The benchmark for all raced horses these days is a minimum rating of HK70. This, broadly speaking, equates to a horse of at least Sydney or Melbourne midweek metropolitan ability or better. Beforehand, the previous standard was any horse becoming eligible after they had won a $17,500 provincial event or better.

“The change resulted in a period of adjustment for both buyers and sellers alike. And the long and the short of it all is that there are now fewer horses that meet the criteria, making nice horses harder to find and increasingly more difficult to buy. “Naturally, we think Southerly Wind has an exciting future and look forward to him going on to bigger and better things up in Hong Kong.”

Mee’s involvement in the sale of Southerly Wind to Hong Kong follows closely on the heels of a busy buying period for Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) at the recent weanling sales conducted in Sydney, Melbourne and on the Gold Coast.

Mee secured over a dozen youngsters for his clients by an array of stallions, including the likes of Snitzel, Harbour Watch (Ire), Unencumbered, Starcraft (NZ), Uncle Mo (USA), Poet’s Voice (GB), Foxwedge, Falvelon, Moshe and Mahisara.

Breednet – Media Release