One of New Zealand's most promising 3-year-olds, Scribe, is out of the Karaka Classic Mile after being sold to Hong Kong.
The deal has been done to send the unbeaten son of Press Statement to David Hayes and while trainer Tony Pike suggested to the new owners they could leave the gelding in his care for the $1 million race at Ellerslie on January 22, they have decided against that.
"It will be a shame to see him go because he is a very talented horse but they have bought well," said Pike.
Scribe was rated by far the greatest danger to Karaka Classic Mile favourite On The Bubbles in the rich mile in two weeks, after he beat him fair and square at Te Rapa last month.
That was only his second start and while On The Bubbles was fresh-up after a throat operation and has improved since, the win left no doubt as to Scribe's potential.