09/10/00 Merry Time for Hong Kong Owners

Hong Kong Equestrian team leader and accomplished show jumper Tat Yan was assigned the task of finding "the right horse" for a keen syndicate at the 1999 Inglis Breeze Up Sale.

He linked with astute judge Kieran Moore to identify a Snippets – Dance For Diamonds colt offered by Widden Stud.

Racing as Merry Merry, the youngster has rewarded his owners finishing in the first five at his five outings to date, according to part-owner Stephen Yip.

"Tat still leads the Hong Kong equestrian team now and then, so in a way he knows much more about horses than the other syndicate members," explains Yip.

"So he was assigned the duty of finding our horse and he was impressed with the breeze-up of the Snippets – Dance For Diamonds," he said.

"We were also very aware of Snippets because his horse Mr. Vitality did so well in Hong Kong."

Connections discussed their choice over the telephone before going ahead to bid for Merry Merry, securing him for $140,000.

"I think the Breeze Up sale is important because potential owners get the chance to now the horse better, the way it gallops, the way it might shape up and the actual track performance.

"Not too many Hong Kong owners know a lot about bloodlines but we remember the breeding of previously successful horses here such as good performer Mr. Vitality, and also the fact he won early fits the strong desire of most owners to have a winning picture taken at the arc of triumph as soon as possible!"

Widden Stud was leading vendor at the 1999 Breeze Up sale where three of the four fastest were Widden horses, including Rory’s Jester colt Full Speed Ahead. He clocked 10.47 secs in his gallop and quickly opened his winning account with wins at Canterbury and Warwick Farm.

Go Maddy, a Keltrice filly purchased for $35,000, has recorded two wins from four appearances for trainer Max Lees including her impressive 2-1/4 length win at Newcastle on July 22.

Fleeting Time, also a Widden breeze-up graduate, has placed at Sha Tin for trainer John Moore.

In previous years Widden Stud has sold breeze-up successes including winners Love Your Wife, Happy Kid, Snap Decision, Dance Wizard, Fastlove, Stately Rhythm, The Chaplain, Goodwill and Dance to France. Manner Hill is also a Widden breeze-up graduate. Widden’s well-prepared ’99 draft averaged $63,625 for eight sold at a sale where the average was $33,563 for 90 sold.