An eye catching bay, athletic, yet feminine, she attracted keen interest as a
genuinely top class type with the pedigree to back her up and sold accordingly.New Zealand agent Michael Wallace did best in a competitive bidding duel to secure the filly for China Horse Club, who bought a glorious Sepoy filly from Celebrity Girl on Wednesday for $850,000.
Hong Kong based China Horse Club are serious in their intent to participate at the top level in racing and breeding throughout the world and have already tasted Group I success in Australia this season with Fastnet Rock filly First Seal, winner of the Group I ATC Flight Stakes.
"The stock they buy all around the world are the real deal," said Newgate Farm principal Henry Field, when interviewed for Sky Racing.
"The Mill Park filly they bought earlier in the sale (by Sepoy from Celebrity Girl for $850,000) was an exceptional filly and so is our filly, so they've bought the two best fillies in the sale.
"When you look at what they are buying here and overseas, you'd be very, very surprised if they aren't successful.
"They've yet to decide on a trainer for her, but I think she'll be like her mother, a natural runner and very fast."
A brilliant sprinter miler by Charge Forward, Response is completely free of
Northern Dancer blood which is a rarity in this part of the world, so her
mating with Fastnet Rock represents a real outcross."She is a beautiful filly by the champion sire from a top class Group I mare," Field continued.
"She's been a very special filly since she was born. It's like that with the a lot of the good ones, you just know from day one.
"You never know what they can make, but we're very happy."
The second foal from Response is a colt by Exceed and Excel and she was covered last spring by Snitzel.
Fastnet Rock has enjoyed a big day in the ring today with a filly from Miss Judgement fetching $500,000, a filly from Necessary Evil (USA) selling for $460,000 and a colt from Pretty Flamingo fetching $400,000.
