Cult Horse Ian to Debut in Hong Kong

Meanwhile, Thursday’s meeting at Sha Tin will feature the debut run in Hong Kong for Ian (Toorak Toff-Barrett’s Mark, by Churchill Downs), reports scmp.com. Winner of three of his four starts in Australia, and third in the other, Ian was purchased by Australian trainer John Thom for $5,000 at the Inglis Melbourne VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale from the draft of Oakford Thoroughbred Farm. An offer from Hong Kong of A$500,000 was agreed by Thom. “It’s certainly a life-changing amount for me. Half a million dollars is life-changing for anybody,” Thom told Racenet in December 2019. “He was a good little horse, but I couldn’t knock back the offer in my circumstances, so I sold him.” Since arriving in Hong Kong eighteen months ago, Ian has been plagued by pelvis and hip injuries, but has recently had three trials for trainer Frankie Lor. Ian, who must have one of the shortest racehorse names ever, will be ridden in the Class 3 Better Future Handicap over 1000m with Vincent Ho taking the ride. Ian’s last start was in September 2019, when he won the VRC Star of the Realm Handicap at Flemington.