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Progeny by O’Reilly and Snitzel commanded the top prices at Friday’s Hong Kong International Sale at Sha Tin.

The sale saw 27 lots sold for a total of $HK116.2 million at an average of $HK4.3 million. The 20 lots realised approximately $HK12 million more than their total purchase price when acquired at overseas sales by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Lot 11, an O’Reilly full-brother to multiple Australasian G1 winner Sacred Falls, and Lot 17, a Snitzel gelding out of the dual G1-winning mare Scarlett Lady, each sold for HK$7 million.

Alessandro Palluzzi made the winning bid for the son of O’Reilly while the Tang Tou Syndicate secured the Snitzel gelding.

Andrew Harding, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Executive Director, Racing, said: “The sale results are in line with our expectations. Some nice types have been offered to our owners which is always the overriding objective of the Hong Kong International Sale.”

Nine of the lots sold for more than $HK5 million but the average was below the $HK5.203 million registered at the corresponding sale last March when 26 lots were offered.

The median of $HK3.9 million was down on the 2018 figure of $HK4.7 million.

Mark Richards, the Club’s Executive Manager of the International Sale, said: “We have seen in the sales around the world that people are particular in their purchasing. That was very much the same tonight.

“I think the horses have sold very well and we are more than happy with the way the whole sale has gone. It is good to see that the owners continue to have their trust in the Jockey Club in the way the sale is performing.”