Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), recent winner of the G2 Jockey Club Sprint, and his John Size stablemate Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) signaled their readiness for the Dec. 13 Longines Hong Kong International Races with victorious barrier trials at Sha Tin Dec. 4.
Waikuku, runner-up to the re-opposing Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Ire}) in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Mile and a latest third in the G1 FWD Champions Mile in April, came with a wide run from far back on the turn and kept on well to take the day’s opening trial over 1200 metres (video), while the naturally speedier Hot King Prawn sat handier to the pace, took over a furlong and a half from home and was under little urging to score in the morning’s third heat, with fellow Hong Kong Sprint aspirant Wishful Thinker (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) third (video). Waikuku and Hot King Prawn were put through their paces by Joao Moreira, who has the call on both horses on international day.
Size famously sent out Glorious Days (Aus) (Hussonet) to win the 2013 Mile off a lengthy layoff and believes Waikuku can be in the finish yet again.
“He’s making some progress so go to the races and just hope he gets a sweet run,” the conditioner said. “He might grab some prizemoney. He’s first-up for a long time and he’s had some interruptions, but if you could get some prizemoney, I’m sure we’d be happy with that and we could proceed to the Stewards’ Cup.”
Waikuku defeated Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the 2020 Stewards’ Cup for a maiden Group 1 win.
Hot King Prawn, second to the now-retired ex-stablemate Beat The Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in the Sprint, looks to be holding his form as he seeks a first top-level tally.
“He seems OK. He’s sort of improving all the time. He’s needed the racing to bring him on,” Size said. “He’s a fairly gross horse and you can’t push him, you’ve just got to wait for him and I think he looks OK to me.”
Prepping for his Group 1 debut in the Longines Hong Kong Mile in three weeks’ time, Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) confirmed his status as the top horse in Hong Kong with yet another breathtaking victory–his 13th from 14 career runs–in Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse. Last year’s Classic Series sweeper was simultaneously winning his 10th race on the hop, joining the likes of his contemporary Beauty Generation (NZ), Co-Tack (Aus) and Silent Witness (Aus) to take as many consecutive races. In the day’s other main events, fellow Hong Kong Derby winner Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) defeated Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) and Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), another paternal grandson of the legendary Lonhro (Aus), returned to winning ways in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).
Miles The Best…
Sent off the $1.15 mortal in the Jockey Club Mile, Golden Sixty landed in midfield and switched off beautifully for his jockey Vincent Ho, as Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) galloped them along at a fairly leisurely clip for the opening 800 metres. Patiently handled on the circle, Golden Sixty was produced four wide off the home corner, split Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power {GB}) to his inside and Champion’s Way (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) to his outside and flew his final quarter mile in :21.89 to score with a fair bit of authority. Ka Ying Star held for second over the 8-year-old Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}).
Ho believes Golden Sixty is still a horse on the rise–a scary proposition, to be sure.
“He felt really good and sprinted home really well,” the homegrown rider told HKJC’s Steve Moran, “The main goal was to settle him as normal and to relax him and he hit the line strongly. He will always produce a really good last quarter. I was happy with how he raced, he’s getting quieter and he knows what’s going on now.”
Though he holds an entry for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, Golden Sixty will remain at the mile for International Day Dec. 13.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$4,500,000 (£436,925/€489,493/ A$794,645/US$580,459), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:32.91, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 123, g, 5, by Medaglia d’Oro 1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Leo’s Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew 3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(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; J-Vincent Ho; HK$2,565,000. Lifetime Record:
Ch. 4yo-HK, 14-13-0-0, HK$38,695,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus)
(Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus, $120,093. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 123, g, 5, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance
(GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud;
T-Tony Cruz; J-Chad Schofield; HK$990,000.
3–Southern Legend (Aus), 128, g, 8, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–
Donna’s Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg ’14
INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW);
T-Caspar Fownes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$517,500.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 2. Odds: 15-100, 89-10, 17-1.
Also Ran: Mighty Giant (NZ), Champion’s Way (Aus), Harmony Victory (Brz), Simply Brilliant (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
WATCH: Golden Sixty imperious in the Jockey Club Mile
Hot King Prawn Doubles Up in JC Sprint…
The likeable Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) won the 2018 G2 Jockey Club Sprint and was heavily favoured to take the next step in the International Sprint, only to fade tamely into ninth. Second to his now-retired stablemate Beat The Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in last year’s Sprint, the 6-year-old will look to go one better next month following a tough-as-teak performance Sunday.
Ridden for at least a bit of pace by Joao Moreira, Hot King Prawn was in the firing line early but ultimately eased back to sit fourth, as Big Time Baby (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) cut out the running outside favoured Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Three deep and without the benefit of cover rounding the bend, Hot King Prawn went on the attack four off the inside at the 400m, grinded his way to the front with less than a furlong to race and gutted it out. Computer Patch stayed on from second ahead of Rattan (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), who missed the break and hit the line strongly.
“He’s six years old this season, but sometimes our good horses can be that age and still do their best,” winning conditioner John Size told HKJC’s David Morgan. “Hong Kong is a place where mature horses can have an advantage sometimes. He had one start before the Hong Kong Sprint last season because he was coming back off a colic operation, so he was a little bit disadvantaged, so this time he’s probably had a more comfortable preparation.”
Hot King Prawn faces a clash with The Everest hero and recent Hong Kong import Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) in the Hong Kong Sprint.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,500,000 (£436,925/€489,493/ A$794,645/US$580,459), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08, gd.
1–HOT KING PRAWN (AUS), 123, g, 6, by Denman (Aus) 1st Dam: De Chorus (Aus), by Unbridled’s Song 2nd Dam: Val de Grace (Aus), by Centaine (Aus) 3rd Dam: Renasans (NZ), by Ashabit (GB)
(A$90,000 Ylg ’16 INGFEB). O-Lau Sak Hong; B-Torryburn Stud
(NSW); T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,565,000. Lifetime
Record: MG1SP-HK, 21-11-5-2, HK$27,247,300. *1/2 to Siren’s
Fury (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), MGSW-Aus, $379,420. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Werk Nick Rating: D+.
2–Computer Patch (Aus), 123, r, 4, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Girl
Hussler (Aus), by Hussonet. (A$800,000 Ylg ’18 INGEAS).
O-Yeung Kin Man; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty
Ltd (NSW); T-Tony Cruz; J-Karis Teetan; HK$990,000.
3–Rattan (NZ), 123, g, 7, Savabeel (Aus)–Grand Princess (Aus),
by Last Tycoon (Ire). (NZ$150,000 Ylg ’15 NZBJAN). O-Wong
Ting Bor; B-M H S & S H R Davison & Mrs M P Schick; T-Richard
Gibson; J-Antoine Hamelin; HK$517,500.
Margins: 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 29-10, 13-10, 49-1.
WATCH: Hot King Prawn wins a second Jockey Club Sprint
Furore Gets Ideal Set-Up in Jockey Club Cup…
Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) became the second Hong Kong Derby winner to score on Jockey Club day, taking advantage of a perfect trip to best Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup.
The mount of Moreira, Furore landed in the box seat and was happy to monitor things from there, as the comebacking Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) was pressed through a lively early tempo by Exultant. For a handful of strides approaching the entrance to the final 600 metres, Time Warp looked as if he might be able to pinch it, with Exultant off the bridle, but Furore got underway in earnest three abreast at the furlong grounds and edged clear. Exultant was forced to go forward from his high draw, but had to do a bit of work early to clear the positively ridden Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), the near-upsetter in last year’s Derby. The pace appeared to take its toll on Exultant, but to his credit, he was gaining inches on the winner at the finish and will be suited by the step up to the 2400 metres for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, which he annexed in 2018.
Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) ran on nicely for third.
“He travelled very kind, he had the cover that we were hoping for and the pace was quite genuine and when I gave him a clear run, they started to come back and he just kept running and showing his quality,” the ‘Magic Man’ told HKJC’s Declan Schuster of the winner, who remains at the 2000 metres for the Cup.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$4,500,000 (£436,925/€489,493/ A$794,645/US$580,459), Sha Tin, 11-21, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.32, gd.
1–FURORE (NZ), 123, g, 6, by Pierro (Aus) 1st Dam: Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute’s Choice 2nd Dam: Shalbourne, by Nureyev 3rd Dam: Copperama (Aus), by *Comeram
(NZ$210,000 Ylg ’16 NZBJAN). O-Lee Sheung Chau; B-G S A
Bloodstock Pty Ltd; T-Tony Cruz; J-Joao Moreira;
HK$2,565,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SP-HK, G1SP-Aus,
25-8-2-4, HK$33,214,600. *1/2 to Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft
{NZ}), Ch. Miler & SW-Sin, GSW & G1SP-HK, $2,375,496. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Exultant (Ire), 128, g, 6, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark
of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau
Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton;
HK$990,000.
3–Columbus County (NZ), 123, g, 5, Redwood (GB)–Spirit of
Sandford (NZ), by Kilimanjaro (GB). (NZ$33,000 Ylg ’17
NZBFEB). O-Mr & Mrs Hamen Fan Shi Hoo, Alex Fan Chen Yen
& Christina Fan Chen Mun; B-D W Mayers & Mrs S J Taylor;
T-Caspar Fownes; J-Vincent Ho; HK$517,500.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 7-5, 9-10, 9-1.
Also Ran: Dances With Dragon (NZ), Ho Ho Khan (NZ), Singapore Sling (SAf), Playa del Puente (Ire), Chefano (SAf), Time Warp (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
WATCH: Furore defeats Exultant in the Jockey Club Cup
With a few notable exceptions, Sunday’s Jockey Club programme at Sha Tin Racecourse has attracted more than two dozen of Hong Kong’s top gallopers, each of whom have an eye on the Longines Hong Kong International Races, now just over three weeks away.
Reigning Horse of the Year Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is set to face eight other rivals as he preps for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in defence of his title in the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m). Winner of 11 of his 26 local appearances, including the 2018 Vase, the 6-year-old carries a five-pound penalty, yet is six pounds better at the weights with his re-opposing stablemate Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), who bested the first-up Exultant in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse H. (1800m) Nov. 1.
Last year’s Classic Series sweeper Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) will be the long odds-on jolly to win the G2 Jockey Club Mile and take his record to 13 wins from 14 career starts. Though the 5-year-olds domestic rating has skyrocketed to 127-three clear of the veteran Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus})–Golden Sixty will enjoy one more start with a break in the weights, as he carries 123 pounds to Southern Legend’s 128 under the conditions of the race. Golden Sixty defeated Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and Southern Legend in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. over Sunday’s course and distance Oct. 18. Mighty Giant (NZ) (Power {GB}) brings a five-race winning streak into the JC Mile, while Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) is being saved for a fresh run in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile.
With The Everest winner Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) gearing up for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint without a local prep, a field of 10 is set for the G2 Jockey Club Sprint over the same 1200-metre distance. Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), second off an 11-month layoff last year, has the benefit of a tightener this time around, having finished a sound fourth to Wishful Thinker (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) and the progressive Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. Oct. 18. Hot King Prawn would go on to fill the same spot behind the now-retired Beat The Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) on international day. Big Time Baby (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) has five local wins on the dirt track, but proved his versatility with a runner-up effort to Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize last April and is not without a chance.
Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}) and Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), two of the five highest-rated horses in Hong Kong, are the heavyweights in a pair of Group 2 races Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, but face younger and well-handicapped rivals who figure to take all the beating.
On a rating of 130, the 8-year-old Beauty Generation remains Hong Kong’s top-rated galloper and he will–once again–have to deal with rising superstar Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro), this time in the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy H. (1600m). The two rivals met in the G3 Celebration Cup H. over 1400 metres Sept. 27, and, in receipt of 17 pounds from the dual Horse of the Year, Golden Sixty kicked home 1 3/4 lengths best, with Champion’s Way (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) dead-heating for second. Golden Sixty figures a warm favorite, but the dual G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile winner figures to improve back over his pet trip and with a seven-pound shift in the weights with the once-beaten Golden Sixty.
Hot King Prawn returns to action as the 133-pound king of the hill in the G2 Premier Bowl H. (1200m). Though his lone victory last season came in a Class 1 handicap, the 6-year-old gray gelding just missed to stablemate Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint and was last seen finishing a close second in the G3 Sha Tin Vase H. over course and distance May 24. Four-year-old Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is the likely favourite stretching out in trip off a dominating 2 3/4-length success in the G3 National Day Cup H. up the 1000-metre straight course Oct. 1. The ridgling gets a whopping 16 pounds off Hot King Prawn Sunday afternoon.
