Intradco Global welcomes the New Year with industry-first equestrian charter
2017 is off to a fantastic start for the Intradco Global team with a record-breaking horse charter successfully completed in the first week of January.
The 76 horse shipment from Ireland represents the biggest single movement of horses into China and has been described as a ‘major leap’ in the development of the lucrative Chinese racing market.
The horses arrived at Shannon Airport (SSN) at 19:00 where they were greeted by the BBA Shipping team and 30 professional handlers. Loading began promptly at 19.25 once the animals were checked and ready for the flight. The whole operation took just four hours to load all 76 horses.
The flight departed from Shannon Airport (SNN) at 02:35 on 5th January with a scheduled fuel-stop in Domodedovo (DME) before reaching its final destination of Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).
The project was led by Kildare-based bloodstock agency BBA Ireland, and is a culmination of years of work supported by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) – the highly respected industry body that promotes Ireland as the leading source for the production and sale of quality thoroughbreds worldwide.
Ann Munnelly, BBA Ireland Shipping Director, said:
“We have been working on this for three months, since the horses were purchased. 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.”
Once settled into their new homes, the horses will go into training in preparation for racing in the hopes that they will become top racers in the local market.
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.”
04/01/2017
Shannon Airport BBA Ireland Ltd transporting 76 horses to China.Pic Arthur Ellis.
04/01/2017
Shannon Airport BBA Ireland Ltd transporting 76 horses to China.Pic Arthur Ellis.
04/01/2017
Shannon Airport BBA Ireland Ltd transporting 76 horses to China.Pic Arthur Ellis.
NO REPRO FEES
A major leap in developing the lucrative China market for Irish bloodstock was made this week with a record airlift of 76 Irish thoroughbreds from Shannon Airport.
All were purchased for Chinese businessman Zhang Yuesheng by Kildare based bloodstock agency BBA Ireland at sales in Goffs last autumn all from Irish breeders. The 76 horses were airlifted in a 4 month old Boeing 747 cargo plane from Shannon in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The €3m airlift was the biggest single movement of Irish horses to China ever, more than doubling the previous high. It was biggest success to date for the Irish thoroughbred industry in terms of the Chinese market and the culmination of a number of years work by BBA Ireland, supported by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM), the semi-state which promotes Ireland as the leading source for the production and sale of quality thoroughbreds worldwide.
The airlift, it is hoped, will lead to further purchases by Chinese horse racing/breeding interests. Typically up to now, over 90% of thoroughbred horses in China are imported from Australia and New Zealand but this airlift confirms the growing Chinese interest in the more expensive, higher-quality Irish horse.Pic Arthur Ellis.
Managing the unique charter project was Intradco Global Director, Charlie McMullen alongside the specialist Intradco Global team who have been working closely with BBA to prepare for the flight.
Charlie McMullen, Intradco Global Director said:
“It was a pleasure to be involved in the first export of such size to China. Our involvement was to source a suitable aircraft, stalls and arrange the professional flying grooms for the smooth loading, transit and offload of all 76 horses. We hope the success of this movement assists BBA Ireland the whole Irish thoroughbred industry to create more opportunities for Chinese market.
The horses, all purchased from Irish breeders are part of a long-term project supported by the ITM that is working to strengthen global interest in Irish thoroughbreds, particularly in the growing Chinese market.”
BBA and those involved in the project are hopeful the consignment will lead to further purchases by Chinese racing and breeding interests. Currently as the market stands, the majority of thoroughbred horses are imported from Australia and New Zealand who are able to import directly to China. However, this movement shows promise of the growing Chinese interest in the more expensive, higher-quality Irish stock.
We specialise in a wide range of animal transportation projects from international horse shipments, livestock and farming, to the relocation of exotic species.
We have built trusted relationships with leading cargo airlines to provide unparalleled global access to hundreds of scheduled services.
With offices located in strategic positions worldwide, we are able to offer truly global coverage.
Over the past 30 years, Intradco Global has developed a hands-on approach of handling difficult cargo. Clients from a variety of industries rely on us to provide inventive, creative and reliable solutions for the most challenging air charter requirements.
