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Williams bids on behalf absent leading Hong Kong trainer

With coronavirus restrictions in place throughout out Australia, Tubba Williams was called upon by the familiar buying team of Dean Hawkes and Ricky Yiu to help with purchases at the Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale on Tuesday and one youngster will be headed to the Yiu’s stable - a colt by Coolmore Stud-based second season sire Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry), who he secured for $180,000.

Offered as part of the Nolen Racing draft and catalogued as Lot 177, the colt was bought Moorillah Pastoral for $80,000 from the draft of Western Breeders Alliance at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale earlier this year and he is out of winning Husson (Hussonet) mare Hussy Five Oh. 

Hussy Five Oh herself is out of three-time winner Nine Covers (Twining), making her a half-sister to dual Group 3 scorer Casino Dancer (Casino Prince). 

The colt’s third dam is Satin Covers (Dr Grace) - the dam of Group 1 winner Great Shot (Magnus) and Listed winner Gawne (Flying Spur), who in turn produced fellow stakes winner Legionnaire (Stratum). 

Further afield this is also the same family as Group 1 winner Satin Sand (Buena Shore). 

Williams said the colt fitted the profile of what Yiu looked for in his stock. 

“Dean Hawkes and Ricky Yiu contacted me to help out at the sale as they couldn’t get here which I was more than glad to do and fortunately we were able to buy this colt,” said Williams. 

“I think he was really good value, by a stallion who is really doing a good job. He is the ideal physical type for Hong Kong in my opinion. He is the type of horse tha Ricky and Dean would normally buy and he breezeed-up well and is prepared by Nolan Racing who consistently do a good job - we are really pleased to have been able to get him. 

“Ricky has been a supporter of the breeze-up sale and he likes a specific type and he was champion trainer in Hong Kong last season and he buys a nice horse and I feel this colt would be exactly what he would be looking for. It is difficult in these times when they are not able to attend, but fortunately because of their interest in the breeze-up horses they were able to fully participate in the sale, so it’s really good.”

Williams said the vendors significantly suffered at the sale and lamented the fact the states did not open the borders on time before the sale. 

“This sale isn’t ideal for any of the vendors there are a lot of people obviously would be hurting there is no doubt about it, but there are some good sales,” said Williams. “This is the sign of the times and there is nothing anyone could do about this. I just wish the state governments had opened the borders and allowed sales like this go ahead normally. 

“There is quite a good pass in rate which is unfortunate, but we have to live through this year and then we have to look forward 2021 and 2022 and make the most of what we have to work with. I feel like there have been a lot of purchases that were really good value at the sale today and this horse was no exception.”