A bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth II that shows her with a mare and foal was sold at Tattersalls in Newmarket. A loaded Hong Kong-based entrepreneur Marc Chan has paid the six-figure sum at the auction.
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The moment a bronze maquette depicting the late Queen Elizabeth II with mare and foal by Etienne Millner & Charlie Langton was sold by auction at Tattersalls to Jamie McCalmont on behalf of Hong Kong based Marc Chan for 165,000 guineas! @LangtonSculptor 📷: @Tattersalls1766pic.twitter.com/9PEsz4aauF
— National Horseracing Museum (@NHRMuseum) November 29, 2022
Here’s why he bought it
Marc Chan spent £173,000 for the scale model of the real-life version which stands at the entrance to the Rowley Mile racecourse in Newmarket. The Hong Kong businessman was a big fan of Queen Elizabeth II.
The top-quality owner of thoroughbreds had incredibly touching reasons for buying the maquette. Jamie McCalmont – who bought the statue on Chan’s behalf – said:
There were three reasons Mr Chan was so keen to acquire the maquette.
On September 11, the funeral cortege bearing the Queen's coffin was making its way from Balmoral to Edinburgh.
As it passed through the town of Kinross, the horse Mr Chan owns of the same name was winning at Doncaster.
Secondly, he was a great admirer of the late Queen Elizabeth, with enormous respect for her and her devotion and love of horseracing, and as patron of the National Horse Racing Museum.
He had seen and admired the maquette on display in the gallery and also another one in private ownership while visiting Newmarket and was very taken with the bronze.
And third:
Thirdly, he had visited the National Horse Racing Museum over the summer with his family and had been so impressed with the venue, the exhibitions and the staff, particularly enjoying the horse equicizer, and was really keen to show his support for the organisation.
Supportive beyond life
The late monarch’s statue – of which only 12 were made – is measured 60cm x 45cm x 40cm. There were several bids for the maquette over £100,000 but it was ultimately given to Chan, reported The Sun.
The director of the National Horseracing Museum, Anne-Marie, said:
On behalf of all the staff and volunteers at the National Horseracing Museum, we would like to express our enormous thanks to Mr Chan for this huge gesture of support and confidence in the Museum.
This is a very heart-warming story that even in death the Queen is still one of our greatest supporters.
Source Used
The Sun: Queen Elizabeth II statue sells for £173,000 as rich businessman buyer reveals amazing reason behind huge purchase
