Pencarrow Stud and New Zealand Bloodstock owner Sir Peter Vela has joined a select group of non-Hong Kong residents approved as international owners permitted to have horses trained full-time in the lucrative and respected racing jurisdiction.

Sir Peter has secured Hong Kong Jockey Club membership and a racing permit, along with his daughter Petrea Vela, who herself is a former managing director of New Zealand Bloodstock and is now a board member. The third New Zealander to be given membership is Nearco Stud’s Greg Tomlinson.

“Hong Kong racing has always been very special to us because of its relevance to the New Zealand industry and the wonderful success New Zealand-bred horses have had up there,” commented Sir Peter when interviewed by NZ Herald’s Michael Guerin.

“One of the greatest wins of my years of ownership was when Romanee Conti won the Hong Kong Cup for my brother Philip and I in 1993. It was a very special win because of the quality of horses she beat. Urban Sea finished behind her that day and she went on to win the Arc in Paris and become the dam of all-time great in Sea The Stars and Galileo.

“So to have this opportunity for myself and Petrea to be members and have horses racing in our family colours is a great privilege.”

The trio have all secured Privately Purchased horse permits (PP), meaning the previously-raced horses they send to compete in Hong Kong must have a confirmed Hong Kong rating of 63 or higher and be aged up to four.

Permits for non-Hong Kong residents to own horses in Hong Kong are a new and exclusive honour. Only eight months ago, Zhang Yuesheng of Yulong Investments and South Africa’s Mary Slack became the very first non-Hong Kong residents to be permitted to have horses trained full-time in Hong Kong.