I gained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Finance[from the University of Otago, New Zealand], but thepassion for the industry won out and after working at
various operations around the world, I developed byown bloodstock agency.
TDN: How did you link up with the China Horse Club?
Though still in its relative infancy, the China HorseClub has become an increasingly important entity on
racetracks and in sales pavilions around the world.
Earlier this year, the CHC purchased a stake in the Peter
Moody-trained Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) and the
4-year-old validated hisnew part-owner=s
confidence as he went
on to win his fourthGroup 1 event in theC.F. Orr S. at
Caulfield. Dissident isexpected to race
through the end of the2015 racing season
The China Horse Club’s Michael before retiring to studat Newgate Farm. The
Wallace (right) following their CHC has also beenpurchase of the second-highest represented inpriced yearling, a A$1.05 million Australia by Group 1
Fastnet Rock (Aus) filly at Magic winner First Seal (Aus)(Fastnet Rock {Aus})
Millions
and in Singapore byLongines Singapore
Sharon Chapman/Fast TrackGold Cup hero
Photography
Tropaios (GB)(Excellent Art {GB}). The Club, whose founder Teo Ah
Khing raced and retains an interest in the stallion careerof dual Derby hero Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}),acquired two of the top three lots at the Arqana Arc
Sale for i2.12 million (two of those purchases, theFrench-bred Auvray and Orbec race this weekend inSingapore). They also made a serious commitment toestablishing an American base at last year=s November
sales in Lexington, acquiring no fewer than 11 horses
for better than $7.2 million at the two auctions. TheCHC is represented at the sales by Michael Wallace, aNew Zealand native with worldwide experience, having
worked at various times for Coolmore in Ireland, forDarley in Newmarket and for Vinery in Kentucky.
Wallace jetted in to Singapore Wednesday ahead of thisweekend=s CECF Singapore and affiliated races and wasgracious enough to field a series of questions from theTDN=s Alan Carasso:
TDN: What is your background/how did you get
involved with/interested in horses?
Michael Wallace: I have been surrounded by theindustry my entire life, my grandfather was an equine
veterinarian and developed our family farm, Ardsley
Stud. My father has continued this on to this day. I wasbrought up on the farm and was completely immersed
in all facets on the industry as we grew up.

MW: I had developed my own independent bloodstockagency and, as part of this, one of our main clients isleading Singapore trainer Michael Freedman. When theCHC made adecision a couple ofyears ago todevelop a presencein Singapore,
Michael was theirtrainer of choice.
Through this mutual
relationships, I metwith [China HorseClub founder] Mr.
Teo [Ah Khing] andCHC Founder Teo Ah Khing andthe CHC
General Manager Eden Harrington management teamincluding Eden
Harrington, whom I knew from earlier days in Australia
and his time with Darley Flying Start. A relationshipwas forged through these meetings and, as the CHC
portfolio grew, the role as their racing and bloodstock
manager was developed for me in early 2014.
TDN: What are the Club=s objectives?
MW: The China Horse Club is a lifestyle, business andThoroughbred racing club and our priorities are in thatorder--lifestyle comes first. One of our objectives is toprovide our members with unique experiences, and thisweekend=s CECF Singapore is part of that process. We
are also driven to make a contribution to the industry inChina, and we do that in several ways, including withscholarship programs to help talented young men andwomen. We are also motived by charity and thepromotion of art, artists and Chinese culture. A Chinese
Equine Cultural Festival embodies all of these elements,and guests in Singapore will see that this weekend withthe CECF Singapore. And while our home is China, weare without borders, it is our goal to have aninternational presence and to involve our members, andthe Chinese at large, in the sport globally.
TDN: What is your approach as it relates to sales? Is
your focus on pedigree or the physical or a combinationof both?
MW: My approach to sales is to service and offer thebest opportunities to our members, while building abalanced and strong long-term bloodstock portfolio.
Like most, we are looking for the supreme athlete. We
work hard at identifying these horses, while carefully
analysing the statistics and external factors available tous to optimise this possibility.

We are striving to target fillies who can firstly
perform on the track or have already shown a certain
level of performance. These fillies have long-term
residual breeding value and, once their racing days are
done, they will join our breeding program.
The G1 Flight S. winner, First Seal (Aus) (Fastnet
Rock {Aus}), is a prime example of this. We haveformed great partnerships to also purchase portions ofcolts at yearling sales, with the hopes of developing
stallions. We were fortunate to be able to partner with
Coolmore on a Galileo colt, which turned out to be theacclaimed Australia (Ire). We have also targeted astutecommercial prospects for our members and [recent G1C. F. Orr S. victor] Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) is asuitable example.
TDN: Are you inclined to purchase either colts or fillies
or is there no preference?
MW: It=s about keeping a balanced portfolio, not just ofcolts and fillies at yearling sales, but also racing stockwith proven performance. We need to service themembers= needs and desires within the industry.
Members are always looking for opportunities to race aleading yearling colt
or filly, buy into a
Melbourne Cup
prospect, target acolt on the track forstallion potential orto acquire a leading
mare to campaign
around the world.
We target
The CHC’s Magic Millions top filly opportunities basedon the goals of ourand second-highest priced yearling individual members.
Kelsey Riley photo
However, theoverarching goal
involves exposing mainland Chinese to the great
carnivals and race days of the world. To be able toenjoy and participate in the global industry and to bepioneers in bringing the Chinese thoroughbred industry
to a standard where it can contribute on theinternational marketplace.
TDN: As we know, Mr. Teo raced Australia in
partnership with the Coolmore team and retains aninterest in his stallion career. Do you have that in theback of your mind when looking at adding fillies to theportfolio?
MW: It=s certainly part of the equation but we are notlimited to Australia in the stallion pool. We have holdingin the four time Group 1 winner, Dissident, who won
the G1 C. F. Orr S. last weekend in Melbourne in greatstyle. We also have a share in a Group 1 winning colt in
America which is very exciting and will be announced
shortly. It=s hoped by the time these fillies are coming
off the track and entering our breeding program that
our stallion portfolio will have grown even further. We
have supported Australia heavily in his first season at
Coolmore Ireland and will continue this when heshuttles to Australia.

We will support all of our stallions strongly in thebreeding shed and sale ring.
TDN: The CHC made a giant splash at the mixed salesin America last November. What attracted you to theAmerican-bred runners that you acquired at FasigTipton and Keeneland?
MW: We acquired a great group of high quality maresat these sales, five mares off the track which are all
stakes winners. We will see three of these in the CECF
Singapore Cup in Parranda (English Channel), My
Option (Belong to Me) and Bajan (Speightstown). Iotapa
was an elite
performer. Shewill form acornerstone of ourAmerican breeding
program with ourother Grade I
winner Last FullMeasure. Iotapa isvisiting War Front.
Last Full Measure
was brought inParranda
Adam Coglianese
foal to War Frontand visits Tapit
this year. These two mares provide a great foundation
for us to make a contribution in the US breeding
industry. We also picked up a nice cross-section ofrace-performed and strong-pedigreed broodmares tosend to Ireland to be covered by Australia. It provides
us an opportunity to send different genetically pooled
and physical types to him so we can form an idea on
what will be best suited in the long term.
TDN: You began shopping the Australian yearlingmarket a few years ago. What is it about the industry inAustralia that motivates the CHC to be so active there?
MW: Like any organisation, we need to do ourhomework and we look to participate in different
markets for many reasons. However, one staple is that
we participate in markets where our members like togo. We want to give them reasons to travel tocountries or cities that they enjoy. Australia is one suchregion. In terms of market appeal, the Australian market
is very buoyant, racing culture is engrained in society.
It=s something that is appealing. The prize money isgreat, there are world-class horses, jockeys, trainers
and breeding farms. Its location to China is also
advantageous. We feel Australia offers a level playing
field where, as new participants, we are welcomed andencouraged to compete and participate in the industry
as a whole.
TDN: Having purchased a couple of horses at
Tattersalls last October, are there any plans to delve
into the American market, either yearlings or 2-yearolds?

MW: We have some mares for racing and breeding in
America already, a very nice select group including
Grade I winners Iotapa (Afleet Alex) and Last FullMeasure (Empire Maker). We also see some of our USA
team coming to compete in the CECF Singapore Cup.
As far as yearlings and 2-year-olds go, we are always
looking and analysing opportunities. I'm sure, in time,that these sales will provide these and we will become
involved further.
TDN: What led you to select Christophe Clement as
your U.S.-based trainer?
MW: Our ethos is that we are very much a team. We
want all of our trainers to be part of that team, wewant them to contribute in many ways, training andmanaging our portfolio of horses is the first step.
Christophe is exceedingly professional, he is outgoingand he is a team player. His record is also imposing. Heis a master trainer. We also have horses with hisbrother, Nicolas, in France. Nicolas is a team player aswell and has been instrumental in singling out
performers such as Tropaios (GB) (Excellent Art {GB}),
who won the Longines Gold Cup for us in Singapore;
and Tabreed (GB) (Sakhee).
Editor=s Note: Tabreed broke her maiden in France forJohn Hammond before being acquired by Nicolas
Clement for CHC and has placed twice at Grade III levelin the U.S. for Christophe Clement, including a last-out
second to stablemate Irish Mission (Giant=s Causeway)
in the GIII La Prevoyante H. at Gulfstream Park Dec. 27.
Tabreed will be retired after a start in Saturday=s
GIII The Very One S. at Gulfstream.
TDN: Talk a little bit about the CECF Singapore and theexcitement it is creating within the Club.
MW: The CECF Singapore Cup is a landmark event, notjust for CHC, but we hope for Singapore and theindustry as a whole. This event is designed to increase
participation from mainland Chinese owners, to havethem involved in a major event and to ensure that oneof them will be on the winners= podium at a majorinternational racing centre. The importance of that intrying to grow interest in the sport in China cannot be
underestimated. All markets have particularrequirements, China is no different. China is at aformative stage at present and events like the CECF
Singapore are an important platform to promote
Chinese owners and Chinese owned horses. Racing is awonderful sport, we want to introduce a new audienceto this sport, an audience that has not paid too muchattention to international racing to date. This weekend
we have captains of every major thoroughbred industry
flying into Singapore and that is very exciting. We want
the international industry to play a role in this process.
Welcoming China, the world=s biggest market, theworld=s largest economy and the world=s most populous
nation, into this sport cannot be done by one club--it
must be a group effort.

Hopefully this weekend will inspire different
industries and different businesses to see how they canplay an active role going forward. The first step is being
here and witnessing this first hand and that step isbeing taken.