‘It Could Open the Doors for More Asian Owners in Ireland and Britain’

Hong Kong-based owner Sean Wee Gan, who recorded a Group race breakthrough with Inquisitively (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) at Newmarket this month, has revealed that the classy 2-year-old will not race again in Europe and will continue his career in Hong Kong.

Wee Gan purchased Rascal Recknell (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) for 215,000gns through Inquisitively's trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy and bloodstock agent Sam Wright at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale off the back of that success.

Wright, who bought the G3 Cornwallis S. winner Inquisitively on behalf of the owner after the colt finished third for trainer Ollie Sangster in the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot, says there is an opening for more Asian owners to buy and race younger horses in Europe before shipping them to Hong Kong.

Wright said, “This experience could open the doors for more Asian-based owners to run horses in Ireland and the UK, particularly as two-year-olds, before bringing them over to Hong Kong. “We could see more people doing that in the future. I do think that there's good value, particularly in Ireland and the UK.”

Reflecting on the Cornwallis win, he continued, “This is the first horse I have bought Sean. I was introduced to Sean when I visited Hong Kong and it was decided after I found this horse at Royal Ascot that, once he was purchased, he would be transferred to Kevin Philippart De Foy.

“I worked with Kevin at Christophe Clement's in 2015 and 2016. Once that decision was made, we basically left it up to Kevin to decide if we'd race him or just keep him ticking over. Kevin put some good works into Inquisitively and said that he could go on to be quite competitive in black-type races.

“As we saw, he went straight for a listed when the horse was still a maiden but he delivered. After York, the weather took a change and it was hard to find nice ground but we took a chance and ran him at Newmarket and I'm glad it all paid off.”

Inquisitively is not the first horse that Wee Gan has sourced from Europe. One of his first horses, Carbon Fibre (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), whose name was changed to First Responder when he arrived in Hong Kong, was bought out of Michael O'Callaghan's yard after he finished second to Ten Sovereigns in a Curragh maiden.

That was a contributing factor in Wee Gan's interests being piqued with Inquisitively as he had been following the progress of Ten Sovereigns ever since the multiple Group 1 winner made that scintillating debut.

Wee Gan said, “We were very lucky that Sam found us a good horse. After I saw Inquisitively finish third at Ascot, I became very interested because, at the same time, I had been tracking the progeny of Ten Sovereigns.

“My first horse in Hong Kong raced under the name First Responder. Before that, when he was trained in Ireland, he was named Carbon Fibre and finished second to Ten Sovereigns at the Curragh. Not to mention that the sire of Ten Sovereigns is by No Nay Never, who is very popular in Hong Kong.”

On future plans for Inquisitively, he added, “This horse is destined for Hong Kong. I kept him in Britain because he is such a young horse, he's only a two-year-old and, in Hong Kong, we don't have two-year-old races.

“I have learned from my experience. I had a horse last year from Ireland and he came here as a two-year-old. The trainer was keeping him on ice as he couldn't race against older horses. That's why I kept Inquisitively in the UK, because he can have a few races before he comes to Hong Kong. We were lucky that he won the listed at York and then the Group 3 at Newmarket.”

In many ways, Rascal Recknell boasts a similar profile to Inquisitively being an unexposed two-year-old. He will eventually be shipped to Hong Kong with Wee Gan explaining how he is on the search for more equine talent.

He said, “I told Sam to try and get me another one like Inquisitively. This horse is owned by a syndication but the next ones I might own myself.

“I have two horses of my own in Hong Kong. They are all called Coulourful something. We had a runner last week called Colourful Prince (NZ) and we also have Colourful Emperor (Ire).

“Then I have horses with a syndicate. We are all St John Ambulance members. The first horse, who we have now retired, was called First Responder. When Inquisitively comes to Hong Kong, he will be called Fast Responder.”

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Inquisitively Makes All For Cornwallis Success, First Group Winner For Ten Sovereigns

Wee Sean Gan's Inquisitively (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}–Ballyalla {GB}, by Mind Games {GB}), fresh off a breakthrough score in York's Listed Roses S., continued on the upgrade with a pillar-to-post victory in Friday's Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis S. at Newmarket, becoming the first pattern-race winner for his freshman sire (by No Nay Never).

The 10-3 second choice had hit the board for Ollie Sangster in Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle S., in his penultimate start, and broke sharply from the far-side stall to seize an immediate lead in this five-furlong dash. Unflustered on the front end until shaken up soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, he held a decisive advantage entering the final furlong and was ridden out up the hill to comfortably hold Rosario (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths for a career high.

“I wasn't that confident beforehand, but he is a very tough horse,” commented trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy after securing a career high of his own. “He took the lead and grabbed the race from the get go. When I saw three horses in line halfway through the race I was a bit worried, but he breathes very well and relaxes. When William [Buick] asked him to quicken up he put it to bed very nicely. I think he is a five-furlong horse, but we will probably have to try the six [furlongs] later down the line. I feel he has got bags of speed, and he jumped so well today he took a length out of them from the stalls. He was sold to go to Hong Kong, but for the time being he is staying here. I would love to keep him, but we will have to speak to the owner. We've had a couple of Listed winners, but I wanted a Group winner this year and I was very keen to get a 2-year-old Group winner, so it is job done. The next step is a Group 2 or Group 1. The [Nov. 3 GI] Breeders' Cup [Juvenile Turf Sprint] is a possibility and we will have to discuss it, but it is not out of the question.”

Pedigree Notes

Inquisitively, the seventh of eight foals, is one of three scorers produced by a winning half-sister to G2 Temple S. victrix Priceless (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Doctor Brown (GB) (Dr Fong). He shares his second dam Molly Brown (GB) (Rudimentary) with G3 Chipchase S. victor Aeolus (GB) (Araafa (Ire) and Listed Golden Rose S. third Hezmah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Molly Brown, in turn, is a half-sister to Listed Premio Nearco victor Stato King (GB) (Statoblest {Ire}) with this being the family of G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup heroine Rebelline (Ire) (Robellino). The March-foaled bay is a half-brother to Listed Cathedral S. and Listed Boadicea S. third Pixieleen (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) and a weanling colt by Havana Grey (GB). He is also kin to the dam of last month's Listed Beverley Bullet Sprint winner Kerdos (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Dark Vintage (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

 

 

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
NEWMARKET ACADEMY GODOLPHIN BEACON PROJECT CORNWALLIS S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-13, 2yo, 5fT, :59.65, sf.
1–INQUISITIVELY (GB), 129, c, 2, by Ten Sovereigns (Ire)
1st Dam: Ballyalla (GB), by Mind Games (GB)
2nd Dam: Molly Brown (GB), by Rudimentary
3rd Dam: Sinking (GB), by Midyan
1ST GROUP WIN. (45,000gns Wlg '21 TADEWE; 40,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Wee Sean Gan; B-Glebe Farm Stud (GB); T-Kevin Philippart De Foy; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, $128,628. *1/2 to Pixeleen (GB) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}), MSP-Eng, $114,191. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigreeWerk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree

2–Rosario (Ire), 129, g, 2, Harry Angel (Ire)–City Glam (Arg), by Grand Reward. (€36,000 Ylg '22 GOFFEB; 20,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Mrs Sue Teal; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Roger Teal. £12,900.
3–Unbreak My Heart (GB), 126, f, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Place In My Heart (GB), by Compton Place (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-C J Harper; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Clive Cox. £6,456.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 1. Odds: 3.33, 10.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: Flora Of Bermuda (Ire), Miaharris (GB), Majestic Beauty (GB), Alaskan Gold (Ire), Alabama (Ire), Son Of Corballis (Ire), Asean (Ire), Tears Of A Clown (GB), Midnight Affair (Ire), Sweetest (Ire). Scratched: Toca Madera (Ire), Zoulu Chief (GB).

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12 Questions: Kevin Philippart de Foy

First job in the Thoroughbred industry?

I started riding for Stephane Cerulis during the summer holidays back in Belgium when I was aged 14.

Biggest influence on your career?

Criquette Head. She is like a second mum, the best advisor and most importantly she made me fall in love with training.

Favourite racehorse of all time, and why?

Treve. I was lucky enough to ride her while she was in training which was a fantastic experience.

Who will be champion first-season sire in 2023?

Blue Point.

Greatest race in the world?

Being born on the continent, I have to put the Arc on par with The Derby.

If you could be someone else in the industry for a day who would it be, and why?

Aidan O'Brien. I have been fascinated by him since I was young, and his track record speaks for itself.

Emerging talent in the industry (human)?

Tegan Clarke and Ellie Whittaker at WC Equine in Newmarket. They have broken and pre-trained several horses for me since I started training and have consigned some breeze-ups with great success.

Name a horse TDN should have made a Rising Star, and didn't?

Vadeni.

Under-the-radar stallion?

Cotai Glory.

Friday night treat?

A glass of red (preferably Bordeaux) with my girlfriend and the dog.

Guilty pleasure outside racing?

Eating. I'm a massive fan of good food.

Race I wish I'd been there for…

Alpinista winning the Arc this year. I watched it in the green room at Tattersalls and the atmosphere was amazing. I can only imagine what it must have been like on course. A well-deserved result for a great team.

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