The Tony Pike-trained Scribe (Press Statement) will do his future racing in Hong Kong with the unbeaten son of Press Statement sold to clients of David Hayes.
Two starts for two wins, including an impressive last-start triumph over Group One winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) and Sophisticardo (NZ) (Burgundy) was enough to earn the required Hong Kong 63 rating.
Purchased for $160,000 from the yearling draft of Carlaw Park at the Book 1 Sale at Karaka, Scribe was one of a number of young prospects bought as part of a colt syndicate as Pike hopes to unearth the next Sacred Falls (successful racehorse and then sire).
The fallback position has been to trade bloodstock to ensure the backers behind the syndicate get a return and after a couple of intakes of racing age, the concept has proved a significant success.
“He is off to David Hayes in Hong Kong. It is similar timing to The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock) who we sold last year,” Pike said.
“You never like losing good horses but obviously the offer was substantial and being a gelding and the business model that we run, we decided that we would accept the offer and move on to the next one.”
Scribe had been one of the favourites for the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on January 22.
Stakes-placed galloper The Irishman, who was sold from the Pike barn after a Listed placing in the Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m) last year will line up in a Class 2 event in Hong Kong on Sunday for trainer Francis Lui as he builds towards the lucrative four-year-old series that culminates in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
Prior to his arrival in Hong Kong, The Irishman had a handful of starts for Sydney trainer Mark Newnham for whom he finished second in both the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).
“He went a ripper first time out in Hong Kong over 1400m and he is in a Class 2 mile on Sunday as a lead-up to the Classic Mile (Listed, 1600m) after that,” Pike said.
“It is terrific to see them go on and perform well for their new connections.”
