The Starship Partnership-owned Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a winner of the G1 Racing Post Trophy S. and G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster as a juvenile in 2016, has been sold to Hong Kong, Racing Post reported on Tuesday. Third in the G1 French 2000 Guineas this May, the Des Scott-bred ran off the board in both the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Deauville June 4 and the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot June 20 and will join the stable of John Moore after being purchased privately by Moore's son George. The half-brother to Group 3 winner Alexander Pope (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) is the second William Haggas trainee to leave the stable for Hong Kong following in the wake of Lockheed (GB) (Exceed And Exel {Aus}), who topped the June 19 Goffs London Sale at £900,000.
“Rivet left us this morning to join John Moore and is a very attractive horse for that market,” Haggas told Racing Post. “His brother [G3 Lion Rock Trophy hero] Booming Delight [previously named Out And About {Ire} and a full-brother to Rivet who is racing in a Class 1 this coming weekend] has won four races there this year, and this horse is better. We were offered a nice sum and the owners accepted it. He's a lovely horse, but you have to trade to stay in business and it was a good deal for the owners. I see no reason why he won't do very well in Hong Kong.”
Rivet will be joined in Hong Kong by a brace of colts by Frankel (GB)–former Juddmonte colourbearer and MSP 'TDN Rising Star' Seven Heavens (GB) and the Cheveley Park Stud homebred Senator (GB). The former, also bred by Cheveley Park Stud and a 620,000gns Tattsersalls October yearling purchase, saluted the judge twice in the care of John Gosden as a juvenile and finished a close-up second in the Listed Surrey S. at Epsom June 2. He will be trained by Caspar Fownes. Sixth last out in the Britannia S. at Royal Ascot, two-time winner Senator will head to the Tony Millard stable from the yard of Richard Fahey. The latter two deals were brokered by Alastair Donald on behalf of unnamed clients.
“When you're buying horses for Hong Kong, the pedigree doesn't matter as much, as you're buying on race record,” Donald told Racing Post. “These two just happened to be by Frankel–and that was an added bonus. The Britannia is a successful race for Hong Kong as it's a competitive field. Seven Heavens was a listed-class sprinter and miler who will be suited by the fast pace in the country. From what I gather, they will be the first Frankels over there [in Hong Kong], and it's always good for sires to have talented horses around the world these days.”
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