golden sixty | Horse Racing Free Tips

Russian Emperor Breaks Through in Hong Kong Gold Cup

by Alan Carasso

Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the winner of the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot in 2020, had run some mighty races since being imported into Hong Kong, but just hadn't had that breakthrough moment. On a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon where the thermometer never made it into the double digits, the 5-year-old finally stood centre stage following a bloodless, 4 1/4-length thrashing of a field that included Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse. The race was marred by a fatal injury to reigning BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who went amiss three furlongs from home and was sadly euthanased.

Exiting a strong third–with Golden Sixty only second–in the G1 Stewards' Cup over an insufficient 1600-metre trip, Russian Emperor was the $6.50 (11-2) second-elect and raced towards the rear of the Gold Cup field in company with odds-on Golden Sixty as Zebrowski (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and Reliable Team (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) led over turf called yielding, a rare designation in Hong Kong. Whereas Vincent Ho kept Golden Sixty out of harm's way–understandable given a somewhat luckless effort from an inside draw in the Stewards' Cup–Blake Shinn rode Russian Emperor for a bit of luck, remaining inside throughout. The two market heavies made runs in unison on the turn, with Golden Sixty clearly taking the worst of it, as Shinn weaved his way through to deliver his challenge four off the inside in upper stretch. To make matters worse for Golden Sixty, the underfoot conditions blunted his typically devastating turn of foot, and by then, Russian Emperor–previously third in last year's Derby and to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December–was well and truly off and gone. Longshot Savvy Nine (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) completed a 1-2 for trainer Douglas Whyte.

“I had a few different ideas, few different views,” the conditioner said, reflecting on pre-race game-planning. “In the parade ring, [Blake] said to me 'Do you mind if I ride the rail?' And I said 'You did that last time, you cut the corner and went in. Why would you do anything different? If you've got the horse underneath you, don't come out? It was the winning move. When you're riding with this kind of confidence in these kind of races, that's what you want. The ride made the difference.”

The connections of Golden Sixty chalked up what appeared to be another sub-par performance to Mother Nature.

“The conditions, for sure, played a part and the others just saved up all the ground,” Ho said. “He still ran well, it was still a good effort.”

Pedigree Notes:

Russian Emperor, who was gelded at the end of a six-race preparation last May, becomes a remarkable 93rd top-level scorer for his late sire and joins Longines Hong Kong Vase winners Highland Reel (Ire) and Mogul (Ire) as those to have achieved that success in Hong Kong.

The bay is one of two winners from three to race from his outstanding dam, twice named champion and a four-time Group 1 winner in Australia whose half-sister Commanding Jewel (Aus) (Commands {Aus}) gave their dam Regard back-to-back winners of the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in 2012.

Atlantic Jewel is the dam of Russian Emperor's unraced 4-year-old full-sister Atlantic Emerald (Ire) and 3-year-old full-brother Fleet Commander (Ire). Her current yearling is an Australian-bred son of US Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) that is cataloged to sell as lot 62 for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Tuesday, Apr. 5. Atlantic Jewel sadly passed away from a hemorrhage five days after foaling that colt.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-20, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:04.11, yl.
1–RUSSIAN EMPEROR (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Atlantic Jewel (Aus) (Ch. 3yo Filly, Ch. Older Mare & MG1SW-Aus, $1,559,748), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Regard (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ)
3rd Dam: Nanshan (Ire), by Nashwan
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Mike Cheung Shun Shing; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Blake Shinn; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, GSP-Ire, 17-3-3-3, HK$19,964,860. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Savvy Nine (Fr), 126, g, 6, Anodin (Ire)–Insan Mala (Ire), by Bahhare. (€42,000 RNA Ylg '17 ARQAUG; €420,000 HRA '18 ARQARC). O-Julian Hui Chun Hang; B-Jan Krauze; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$2,640,000.
3–Golden Sixty (Aus), 126, g, 6, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor. (A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui K W; J-Vincent Ho C Y; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 11-2, 56-1, 2-5.
Also Ran: Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), More Than This (GB), Zebrowski (NZ), Butterfield (Brz), Reliable Team (NZ), Panfield (Chi). DNF: Sky Darci (NZ). Scratched: Columbus County (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Wellington Makes Amends in QSJC…

After having to take evasive action around the nasty spill in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint two back and after enduring a checkered passage when fourth to Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in the G1 Centenary Sprint Prize Jan. 23, Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) was back to his best Sunday, with a comfortable victory in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.

Settled just behind midfield as the heavily tried Californiadeepshot (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) dueled inside of Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), Wellington was waited with behind horses, sprinted more quickly than Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) to his outside to take aim on the front rank at the 200 metres and kicked home nicely for a second Group 1 success. Ka Ying Star ran on gamely for second ahead of Stewards' Cup upsetter Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who was strung up in traffic at a crucial stage and did well to be third.

“I'm obviously pleased for the horse, just had an irritating start to the season for him,” winning trainer Richard Gibson commented. “We were lucky to have a horse after the Longines Hong Kong Sprint and all the misfortune that happened to those horses. This year, things haven't quite gone right for him and we fancied our chances today and the horse delivered.”

Gibson confirmed that Wellington will not target anything on foreign soil and will defend his G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize Apr. 24.

Mihiri is the dam of the unraced 2-year-old filly Rotorua (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), missed to Deep Field in 2020 and produced a full-sister to Wellington last term.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 2-20, 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:23.53, gd/yl.
1–WELLINGTON (AUS), 126, g, 5, by All Too Hard (Aus)
1st Dam: Mihiri (Aus) (GSP-Aus, $123,433), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Danoise (GB), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Solo de Lune (Ire), by Law Society
(A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-; T-Richard Gibson; J-Alexis Badel; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 14-8-1-0, HK$25,948,690. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 126, g, 7, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Matthew Chadwick; HK$2,640,000.
3–Waikuku (Ire), 126, g, 7, Harbour Watch (Ire)–London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€33,000 Ylg '16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Shane Molan; T-John Size, J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 33-5, 13-1, 3-2.
Also Ran: Sky Field (Aus), Californiadeepshot (Aus), Mighty Giant (NZ), Lucky Express (Aus), Healthy Happy (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

The post Russian Emperor Breaks Through in Hong Kong Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Golden Sixty Looking To Bounce Back in Gold Cup Defence

Having suffered a shock defeat when last seen in the G1 Stewards' Cup–his first in over 30 months–Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) will have atonement on his mind when he goes in search of back-to-back victories in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000mT) Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse.

There was plenty to play for in the Stewards', as Golden Sixty had taken his winning streak to 16 with a second consecutive success in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December and had the chance to draw even with the legendary Silent Witness (Aus)'s consecutive streak. It wasn't to be, however, as the 6-year-old got too far out of his ground in a paceless race and he was unable to bridge the gap late with Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). In a sense, that renders Sunday's race a less-stressful affair, and connections anticipate Golden Sixty to be back to his best.

“He felt good, he was really relaxed and he feels nice and strong,” said jockey Vincent Ho after Golden Sixty capped off 1200 metres of work with a final quarter-mile in :22.5 Feb. 15.

In addition to last year's Gold Cup, Golden Sixty defeated the now-retired fellow BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) and looks to stay perfect in three tries at the 10-furlong distance.

Those looking to make life difficult on the reigning Horse of the Year include 2021 Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who returns to the 2000 metres for the first time since, and Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), third in last year's Derby and an excellent third over an insufficient trip in the Stewards' Cup last time.

Waikuku lines up in the 1400-metre G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup as he goes in defence of his crown. His seven rivals include G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint victor Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}); Chairman's Sprint Prize winner Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), who has viable excuses for his last two runs; and the sneaky Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), whose two victories from four tries at the metric seven furlongs includes a neck decision over Lucky Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) with 132 pounds on his back in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup H. on New Year's Day.

The post Golden Sixty Looking To Bounce Back in Gold Cup Defence appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Knicks Go Crowned World’s Best Racehorse

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go (Paynter) was named the Longines World's Best Racehorse of 2021 during a virtual ceremony of the Longines World Racing Awards streamed live from the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket, England on Tuesday. Also during the ceremony, the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe–won last year by Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger})–was announced as the Longines World's Best Horse Race of 2021, and Ryan Moore was celebrated as the Longines World's Best Jockey.

The 6-year-old Knicks Go earned a rating of 129 for his Classic win at Del Mar, and is widely expected to be named the U.S. Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards on Feb. 10 off a campaign that also included victories in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., the GI Whitney S., the GIII Cornhusker H. and the GIII Lukas Classic S. Knicks Go, who is trained by Brad Cox and owned by the Korea Racing Authority, is set to defend his title in the Pegasus this weekend before heading to stud at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.

“He's got a ton of class and he's a very intelligent horse,” said trainer Brad Cox during the virtual ceremony. “He's been at this for a few years now. Some of the things that set Knicks Go apart from other very good horses is definitely his ability to shut off things mentally. He's aggressive training, but when he's finished training he takes a deep breath and relaxes. He's gotten better as he's gotten older mentally and I think that's one thing that really benefitted him this past season.

“Going into the Classic we had a lot of confidence in him. He was training really well and he obviously had a fantastic start to the season. We had a little bit of a setback with a race in New York, the [GI] Met Mile [when fourth], but then he really started capping off a nice string of races. Obviously his second half of the year was fantastic with big wins at Saratoga and Churchill, and ultimately the Breeders' Cup Classic was the race that put him in a position to become the top-rated horse in the world.

“He had a fantastic year and this was the cherry on the top with regards to what he could accomplish in 2021. It's a very prestigious honour to be mentioned along with the past recipients of this award, champions throughout the world, and to be at the top is just a true honour and something we're very proud of.”

A trio of European-trained runners were joint-second with ratings of 127. Godolphin's G1 Derby winner Adayar (GB) (Frankel {GB}) earned that mark with his win over older horses in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.-the Charlie Appleby-trained colt was the first 3-year-old to record the Derby/King George double since his grandsire Galileo 20 years earlier.

“It was a great performance from a great horse, and the horse is very straightforward to ride,” said jockey William Buick. “He won at Epsom, he won the King George against older horses. He's won in big fields, small fields, slow ground, faster ground, so he's very versatile. He is everything a good horse should be.”

Adayar, who stays in training at four, was the joint highest-rated 3-year-old in the world last year with the Coolmore partners' St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who went unbeaten in four starts on the season encompassing the French Classic double of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, the G1 Coral Eclipse S. and the G1 Irish Champion S. to be named Europe's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt. St Mark's Basilica, who covers his first book at Coolmore this season for €65,000, earned his rating of 127 in the Coral-Eclipse.

“St Mark's Basilica was a tremendous horse,” said jockey Ryan Moore. “He'd relax so well in his races and he'd just do whatever you wanted him to do; whatever you asked him to do, he'd do it straight away. So he was very unique, and the turn of foot was something exceptional. He was an excellent racehorse.”

Adayar and St Mark's Basilica were joined at 127 by Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who compiled an intercontinental Group 1 campaign. The 2020 G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner won the Saudi Cup before it achieved Group 1 status, as well as the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in the Gulf region. He returned to Europe to hit the board behind St Mark's Basilica and Adayar in the Coral-Eclipse and the King George before romping by six lengths in the G1 Juddmonte International, where he earned a rating of 127. Mishriff is preparing to defend his Saudi Cup title next month.

Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) flew the flag for Japan last year, returning from his Triple Crown-winning campaign of 2020 to scoop the G1 Japan Cup, earning a rating of 126. Contrail's compatriot and G1 Tenno Sho Autumn conqueror Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) was also a worthy representative for Japan, earning marks of 124 for that victory and also for his win in the G1 Arima Kinen. Both of those were victories over older horses for the then-3-year-old. A rating of 124 was also earned by American runners Flightline (Tapit), Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Medina Spirit (Protonico), as well as Australian sprinter Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}).

Four runners from three different nations are tied on a rating of 125. Shadwell's Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) burst onto the scene in June last year as a 3-year-old and eventually went unbeaten through a six-start campaign, culminating in wins in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. The William Haggas-trained Baaeed earned a 125 for his win in the QEII, in which he beat the subsequent European champion older horse Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}). That was the John and Thady Gosden trainee's lone defeat during a season in which he took the G1 Lockinge S. (125 rating), G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Palace Pier stands this season at Dalham Hall Stud for £55,000.

Torquator Tasso also achieved a mark of 125 for his victory in last year's world's highest-rated race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which he defeated a star-studded field at odds of 72-1. Torquator Tasso, owned by Gestut Auenquelle and trained by Marcel Weiss, had previously bested the G1 Deutsches Derby winner Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden, and was Germany's highest-rated horse last year.

Golden Sixty (Aus) proved the highest-rated Hong Kong-trained runner of 2021, earning a rating of 125 for his title defense of the G1 Hong Kong Mile. The 6-year-old Golden Sixty had a 16-race win streak snapped on the weekend when he was second in Sha Tin's G1 Stewards' Cup.

ParisLongchamp's 'Arc' was named the World's Best Horse Race for the fifth time in its 100th running. The World's Best Horse Race is based on annual race ratings, which are calculated from the first four finishers, and in the Arc last year those were Group 1 winners Torquator Tasso, Tarnawa (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Hurricane Lane (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Adayar. The Arc achieved a rating of 124.75, and was followed by the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (124.5) and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Qipco S. (123.5).

Jockey Rene Piechulek, who rode Torquator Tasso to victory on the first Sunday in October, talked the audience through his ride in the Arc during the ceremony.

“We jumped off and I had a good position behind Adayar so I stayed behind him,” he said. “I spoke with the trainer before and he said, 'we have to run on the outside so we don't go between horses' and that's why I was happy with my position. William Buick [on Adayar] took the lead after a slow race and I said 'ok, I can't follow him, I have to stay where I've been'. I was happy with my position going around the last bend and I was waiting for somebody to try to pass me. [Deep Bond] was the first one to try this so I waited until he was close to me, and when he was close to me I started to push. When I switched the whip to the left side he started to run very fast. The last 200 metres I thought, 'I'm going to earn money', but I didn't think I could win the race. In the last 100 metres, I knew I was going to win.

“It was an amazing race and I still can't believe it. It's the dream of every good jockey.”

Ryan Moore was announced in December as the Longines World's Best Jockey of 2021, an award decided based on performance in the 100 highest-rated Group and Grade I races in the world. Moore, who was also the world's best jockey in 2014 and 2016, said, “I've always felt throughout my time riding that racing was a global sport and the most important thing was to be competitive all around the world, then you know where you are.

“You only win these awards because of the horses you're riding and I'm very lucky I get to ride some of the best horses for some of the best owners all around the world. You can't do anything without the horse, so it's only because of them.”

The Longines World Racing Awards are co-organized by Swiss watch brand Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Click here for the complete list of ranked horses and the top 100 Group 1 races for 2021.

The post Knicks Go Crowned World’s Best Racehorse appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Waikuku Stuns The World In Stewards’ Cup

The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic dictated that there would be no one on hand Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse to 'witness' the running of the G1 Stewards' Cup. But there was a collective 'silence' right round the world when Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) crossed the wire three-parts of a length to the good of the virtually unbeatable Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who saw his attempt to equal the winning streak of Silent Witness (Aus) go by the wayside while tasting defeat for just the second time in his 21-race career.

For the record, Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was an eye-catching third over an insufficient trip, but all eyes were on the reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, who jumped brilliantly from gate one, but then eased back to take up his customary position at the back, a few lengths less handy than last time in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) lobbed them along up front, but Zac Purton had Waikuku right at his flank through an opening 800 metres in :49.47, some eight to nine lengths off standard time, as Golden Sixty raced keenly and tactically disadvantaged beneath Vincent Ho.

Steered out and around Hong Kong Mile runner-up More Than This (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) at the three-furlong pole, having continued to race freely, and losing crucial ground in the process, Golden Sixty had clear sailing into the stretch, but Waikuku raced to the front with a bit more than 300 metres to travel and the alarm bells would have been sounded. Though he was able to produce his typical barnstorming finish, with a final quarter-mile in :21.95, Golden Sixty had simply been set a task too tall. Unlike when he managed to scrape home in the 2020 Hong Kong Derby off a similarly slow tempo, he could not do so this time, and Waikuku was able to cause the upset. It was a seventh Stewards' Cup for trainer John Size.

“I was really happy with the way the race was run, I was in a lovely rhythm and I knew he was going to give me a kick but with Golden Sixty in the race, you're never home until you pass the post,” said Purton, who only recently returned from injuries suffered in that horror fall in the Hong Kong Sprint six weeks ago. “He's run many horses down the last few years, he's a champion and obviously the race wasn't run to suit him today.”

Golden Sixty was tasting defeat for the first time in 30 months.

“The horse is OK–he appears to have pulled up well,” trainer Francis Lui said. “It was just the draw. The way the race was run, he needed to be closer but, from the inside, it wasn't possible today.”

Winner of this race in 2020 when favoured at 1-2, the 2019 Derby runner-up was exiting a three-lengths' seventh to Golden Sixty in the international Mile Dec. 12, having previously run second to him in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 20.

Pedigree Notes:

Waikuku is one of two top-level scorers for the late Harbour Watch (Ire), the other being G1 Coronation Cup hero Pyledriver (GB), a latest second in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase last month.

London Plane is also the dam of breeder Shane Molan's Dancing Rebel (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}), who broke his maiden over five furlongs at the Curragh Oct. 14, a newly turned 2-year-old colt by Australia (GB) and a yearling filly by Harbour Watch's sire Acclamation (GB).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
STEWARDS' CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,137,224/€1,358,861/
A$2,147,623/US$1,541,185), Sha Tin, 1-23, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34:82, gd.
1–WAIKUKU (IRE), 126, g, 7, by Harbour Watch (Ire)
1st Dam: London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Aunt Julia (GB), by In the Wings (GB)
3rd Dam: Original (GB), by Caerleon
(€33,000 Ylg '16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Tang; B-Shane Molan; T-John Size; J-Zac Purton; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 25-9-5-2, HK$43,807,450. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Golden Sixty (Aus), 126, g, 6, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor. (A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui Kin-wai; J-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu; HK$2,640,000.
3–Russian Emperor (Ire), 126, g, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Atlantic Jewel (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Blake Shinn; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 14-1, 0.05, 24-1.
Also Ran: More Than This (GB), Sky Darci (NZ), Healthy Happy (Aus), Kings Shield. Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Stronger Gives Whyte First Group 1 As a Trainer…

The rare entire horse in Hong Kong, A$1.05 Inglis Easter graduate Stronger (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) rallied from the back of the field and just outfinished G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) to give former jockey Douglas Whyte his first Group 1 success as a conditioner in Sunday's Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin.

Away alertly for Vincent Ho, Stronger allowed the speedier early types to go on with it and raced with only Sky Field behind him, as Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) went a solid gallop up front. Eased out into about the six path as the field hit the straight, with Sky Field now alongside, Stronger (1098 pounds) was roused to the front inside the furlong marker and managed to hold the physically more imposing and similarly colored Sky Field (1205 pounds) in the run to the line.

A Group 3 winner in Australia for Peter and Paul Snowden, Stronger won one of nine starts for trainer John Moore in 2019/2020 and joined the Whyte yard upon the latter's compulsory retirement last season. Stronger scored in his first run for the barn in November 2020, and though he had dropped his last 13 races, posted board finishes four times at group level, earning the right to soldier on. He was most recently fifth in the Sprint Dec. 12.

Pedigree Notes:

Stronger becomes the 16th Group 1 winner for the pensioned Not A Single Doubt (Aus) and his second in Hong Kong, joining the recently retired G1 Champions Mile hero and multiple Stewards' Cup placegetter Southern Legend (Aus).

Stronger is out of a winning daughter of three-time listed winner and Group 1-placed Ain't Seen Nothin, dam of Singapore Horse of the Year Stepitup (Aus) (Hussonet); GSW Bachman (Aus) (All American {Aus}); and Ain'tnofallenstar (NZ) (Starcraft {NZ}), herself responsible for SW Ain'tnodeeldun (Aus) (Dundeel {NZ}).

Star Pupil is the dam of a yearling filly by Pariah (Aus), a filly foal by Snitzel (Aus) and visited the latter again last November.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY SPRINT CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,137,224/
€1,358,861/A$2,147,623/US$1,541,185), Sha Tin, 1-23, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.78, gd.
1–STRONGER (AUS), 126, h, 5, by Not A Single Doubt (Aus)
1st Dam: Star Pupil (Aus), by Starcraft (NZ)
2nd Dam: Ain't Seen Nothin' (Aus), by Nothin' Leica Dane (Aus)
3rd Dam: Icecapade (Aus), by Genghiz
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$1,050,000 Ylg '18 INGEAS). O-Cheung Hon Kit, Joanna Cheung Wai Sze & Jonathan Cheung Yu Shing; B-Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd & Planette Thoroughbred (NSW); T-Douglas Whyte; J-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Aus, 31-6-7-3, HK$17,281,510. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sky Field (Aus), 126, g, 5, Deep Field (Aus)–Laravissante (NZ), by O'Reilly (NZ). (NZ$175,000 Ylg '18 NZBJAN). O-Kwan Shiu Man, Jessica Kwan Mun Hang & Jeffrey Kwan Chun Ming; B-M Ryan (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Blake Shinn; HK$2,640,000.
3–Hot King Prawn (Aus), 126, g, 7, Denman (Aus)–De Chorus (Aus), by Unbridled's Song. (A$90,000 Ylg '16 INGFEB). O-Lak Sau Hong; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-John Size; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: HD, HF, HF. Odds: 17-1, 31-10, 67-10.
Also Ran: Wellington (Aus), Super Wealthy (Aus), Courier Wonder (NZ), Master Eight (Aus), Computer Patch (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

The post Waikuku Stuns The World In Stewards’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post