DUAL Group 3 winner Dunboyne Express has become the latest British or Irish-trained horses to be recruited to Hong Kong after connections of the Irish Derby fifth excepted a six-figure sum for the son of Shamardal.
He becomes the third horse this month to leave for Hong Kong, following hot of the heels of smart juveniles Caledonian Spring and Frederick Engels, who have also been sold to race in the Far East.
"He is a very nice horse who has won Group races at two and three and we have finally managed to acquire him having tracked him for almost a year," said Peter Hickey of Tiranga Bloodstock, who brokered the deal.
Winner of the Anglesey Stakes at two, Dunboyne Express will join trainer John Moore and is likely to be preparedfor the Hong Kong Derby.
Former trainer Kevin Prendergast said: "He is a very straight forward horse, who was a pleasure to train. I would like to wish his new connections all the best with him."
As well as the impact to the quality of racing, Hickey believes the increasing exodus could have wider spreading repercussions for the racing industry in Britain and Ireland.
He said: "With the poor prize-money in Britain it is no surprise to see horses heading to Hong Kong, America and Australia to further their career.
"At Tiranga Bloodstock we specialise in stallion purchases and as horses leave for overseas their absence could leave a shortage of new stallionsin the UK and Ireland."
