HORSES FOR COURSES
HISTORY IN THE MAKING AS AIRBRIDGECARGO, INTRADCO AND BBA ENSURE SAFE DELIVERY OF ¤3 MILLION OF RACEHORSES TO CHINA
One of AirBridgeCargo’s (ABC) newest Boeing 747-8 Freighters has helped to create a new record for Irish bloodstock breeders with the airlift of 76 thoroughbreds from Shannon Airport to Beijing in China.
Since it launch in 2004, ABC has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading airlines for live animal transportation so it was a natural choice for Intradco, specialists in global bloodstock, livestock and AVI transport, when it was commissioned by BBA Ireland (The British Bloodstock Agency) to organise the historic flight.
Onboard the four-month-old 747-8 were €3 million of prime Irish bloodstock, purchased by Chinese businessman, Zhang Yuesheng.
The flight was the biggest single movement of Irish horses to China ever, more than doubling the previous high and represents the biggest success to date for the Irish thoroughbred industry in terms of the Chinese market. It was also a tribute to the years of work by BBA Ireland, supported by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM), which promotes Ireland as the leading source for the production and sale of quality thoroughbreds worldwide.
Breeders hope the success of the airlift will lead to further purchases by Chinese horse racing/breeding interests. Currently, over 90% of thoroughbred horses in China are imported from Australia and New Zealand but this delivery confirms the growing Chinese interest in Irish horses.
On arrival in Beijing on a Thursday night, this initial batch of 76 horses were transported to their new stables over the following weekend. Throughout their journey, they travelled with a team of professional flying grooms and a vet, supported by 30 handlers on the ground during the three-hour process of loading the animals at Shannon. The horses will go into training in China before becoming top local racers.
Declan Murray, Managing Director at BBA Ireland, said: “This is really good business for the Irish equine industry, not least for small breeders from whom most of these horses were purchased. Many of these horses might not have met the high standards of the Irish and European market but they are still of a higher standard than the average horse currently racing in China. So Irish breeders get a good price for horses they might not otherwise have got, the industry here further develops the emerging Chinese market and China gets a higher quality racehorse. Everyone wins with this.”
Andrew Murphy, Chief Commercial Officer for Shannon Group, which operates Shannon Airport, added: “We are well used to ‘firsts’ at Shannon but having a record airlift of Irish horses to China from here was very exciting for all concerned.
RACING HISTORY
BBA Ireland are experts in this market and we are delighted to be working with them. We have also gained considerable experience and expertise over the years in handling this type of precious cargo through sizeable equine lifts for some of the Irish larger stud farms that have horses going to the United States, Middle East and onto Australia. This gives comfort to BBA Ireland and, indeed, to their clients.”
The team involved spent three months planning the shipment. “Many experienced hands have been involved in this and it has been one of our most ambitious projects to date so we are very excited to have completed it. It illustrates not alone the opportunity in China for Ireland but also our ability to deliver,” said Ann Munnelly, BBA Ireland’s Shipping Director.
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