It's
no coincidence that leading Hong Kong racing personality Apollo Ng's links to
two runners in Saturday's $A500,000 Group I Queensland Oaks are New
Zealand-bred.
Ng, whom Gai Waterhouse last year described as "one of the most
fascinating racing people in the entire world," is well known for his many
roles in thoroughbred racing.
The Chinese commentator for Hong Kong racing for 21 years before his retirement
from that position in 2010, Ng continues to run his own racing publication
Racing World and he also breeds, buys and manages bloodstock for a range of
entities.
He is particularly looking forward to Saturday's Queensland Oaks (2200m) at
Doomben, with his interest centering around former Kiwi trainer John Sargent's
two New Zealand-bred fillies, Swift Lady and the balloted Champion Stage.
Ng has been an advocate for several former accounting colleagues who bred and
race O'Reilly filly Swift Lady - Alvin Wong, YT Cheung, Allan Ho and Silas
Yang, while he bought Champion Stage for his uncle, Oliver Wong, a retired
solicitor with "no other interests outside racin," according to his
nephew.
Ng bought Swift Lady's grand-dam Swiftsynd for his accounting friends and they
have bred from her and her offspring since.
"I have bought and bred horses in New Zealand for very good reason,"
Ng said from Hong Kong this week.
"New Zealand can offer the stamina which some other bloodlines can't
provide. Often young European staying stallions start their stud careers there
too, for example High Chaparral and Mastercraftsman, and they get their chance
in New Zealand.
"In Australia, you go for speed, New Zealand - stamina. The nice horses
I've bought in New Zealand all have got stamina."
Ng has had excellent success with New Zealand-bred gallopers in recent years including this year's Group I ATC Australian Oaks winner Gust of Wins and last year's Group II Wakeful Stakes winner and Group I Victorian Oaks runner-up
Thunder Lady for Oliver Wong, along with the likes of Largo Da Barra, Mountain View and Military Lady.
Though Champion Stage is in danger of not gaining a start in the Queensland
Oaks, Ng sees little between her and Swift Lady.
"Champion Stage might be the better stayer but Swift Lady might be more
brilliant and they can get away with a staying trip as a three-year-old,"
he said.
"It's a toss of a coin which one is better. If Champion Stage doesn't make
the field, we'll try and get her into the Derby the next week. We'll be looking
for both horses to eventually run well at the spring carnival in
Melbourne." - NZ Racing Desk