Europe's champion rider Ryan Moore will reunite with Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) for the G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill Sept. 23. The announcement was made after James McDonald, aboard for a pair of group wins earlier this season, sustained a fracture in his left foot that will require a four-week hiatus.
“Shinzo is a high profile colt, he is a Golden Slipper winner [Mar. 18] and Ryan knows the horse as well as anyone,” Coolmore's Tom Magnier told Racenet.
Magnier and Moore watched Shinzo's exhibition gallop alongside star stablemate Militarize at Royal Randwick last weekend.
“I remember Ryan telling me after the Golden Slipper that Shinzo was more like a 3-year-old back then and he couldn't believe the size and power he saw in the gallop,” Magnier said of the colt's last gallop. “Ryan can't wait to get back and ride Shinzo in the Golden Rose.”
Following the Golden Rose, trainer Chris Waller has expressed an interest in running Shinzo in the $20M The TAB Everest next month.
Coming into Sunday's FWD Champions Day meeting–the spring Hong Kong International Races, if you will–two-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), reigning champion middle-distance horse Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and emerging sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) had absorbed a gut punch or two over the course of the season. But each put pay to any lingering disappointment from those efforts with eye-catching, skinny-odds victories at before a crowd of nearly 50,000 at Sha Tin Racecourse.
If you had a punt, one of two things happened–you either didn't get wealthy betting them or tore tickets trying to oppose them.
In the end, each of the trio proved soft winners. Lucky Sweynesse consolidated his position as the leading sprinter and arguably one of the all-time best sprinters in the jurisdiction in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, while Golden Sixty–who could not quite reel in California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in search of a three-peat in December's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile–raced as close to the speed as he has in recent memory, then produced his trademark acceleration to win the G1 FWD Champions Mile for a record-setting third time. With the win, the 7-year-old reportedly surpasses Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) as the richest racehorse in history. Romantic Warrior could not solve Golden Sixty in the G1 Stewards' Cup and G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup in his two most recent runs, but he stamped his authority on the G1 FWD QE II Cup for the second year in a row, comfortably besting Japan's Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
“It was a day that showed Hong Kong racing has fully come back to the world stage with the atmosphere and the performances of these champion horses,” said Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “This is really a global event and one which has improved the reputation of Hong Kong racing, especially after COVID. Today was a fantastic day of racing, the atmosphere was electrifying and the fans definitely supported us.”
Romantic Warrior Makes History Of His Own
Reported to have had a bit of a temperature the days leading up to his Gold Cup defeat, Romantic Warrior was on song for the QE II Cup and put on dominating performance in defence of his title.
Forwardly placed as Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) was allowed to crawl up front, Romantic Warrior was slipped just a bit of rein by the visiting James McDonald–also in the saddle in December–and the duo quickly went to the front-runner shortly after turning into the straight before streaking clear. His final 400 metres were timed in :22.53, faster than Golden Sixty's finishing kick and only fractionally slower than Lucky Sweynesse.
“He's a world-class horse and put in a performance just like he did in December,” said McDonald. “There wasn't one part of the race where I thought he wasn't right–he was always going to explode for me–and the race panned out beautifully. He's a world-class horse. It took an absolute weapon to run him down last time, but he's a great 2000m horse and I really enjoy riding him.”
Prognosis, last-out winner of the G2 Kinko Sho, rallied from the tail to be second, while Dubai Honour (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) kept on for third in a race that wasn't run to suit, according to his trainer William Haggas.
“It was messy from our point of view but Romantic Warrior was so good,” the conditioner said of Dubai Honour, who won the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Longines Queen Elizabeth S. in Australia prior to his getting his passport stamped in Hong Kong as well. “But the last few months have been fantastic, more than I could have dreamed of, and it really whets your appetite for more of these trips.”
Trainer Danny Shum was at one time an assistant to Ivan Allan, who sent Fairy King Prawn (Aus) (Danehill) to Japan to win the Yasuda Kinen, and that country could be a future port of call for Romantic Warrior.
“I feel big relief and I must say a big thank you to my stable team, the mafoos, the work rider Gary Lau as they work very hard and never give up,” he said. “We plan to run now in the [G1 Standard Chartered] Champions and Chater Cup (2400m, May 28] and then we will have a good look about Japan for next season.
The 2000-metre Tenno Sho (Autumn) is what Shum is considering, a race that could also attract the world's top-rated Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}).
“I'd like to go to Japan,” Shum added. “I have a history because my ex-boss Ivan won the Yasuda Kinen and I hope I will follow him successfully and win a Group 1 there.”
Pedigree Notes:
Romantic Warrior is one of three winners from three to the races for his dam, a daughter of the English listed-winning and Group 3-placed, G2 Prix Jean Romanet and GI E. P. Taylor S. winner Folk Opera, who was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock carrying to Exceed and Excel (Aus) for €82,000 at the 2016 Goffs November Sale. The in-utero purchase, named Melodic Charm (Ire), was sold for 85,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls October Sale and was a two-time winner at the races for Saeed Manana and James Tate before clearly benefitting from the success of Romantic Warrior when selling to the China Horse Club for 270,000gns in foal to Dark Angel (Ire) at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Folk Melody is also the dam of the 3-year-old colt Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and a yearling colt by the same stallion.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong FWD QE II CUP-G1, HK$25,000,000, Sha Tin, 4-30, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.92, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Acclamation (GB) 1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire) 3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum Chap-shing; J-James McDonald; HK$14,250,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo & Ch. Middle Distance Horse-HK, 13-10-2-0, HK$81,725,400. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Prognosis (GB), 126, h, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Velda (GB), by Observatory. O-Shadai Race Horse Ltd; B-Shadai Farm; T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,500,000.
3–Dubai Honour (GB), 126, g, 5, Pride Of Dubai (Aus)–Mondelice (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (110,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Mohammed Obaida; B-Macha Bloodstock/Meridian International; T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand; HK$2,500,000.
Margins: 2, HF, HF. Odds: 3-5, 33-5, 37-10.
Also Ran: Money Catcher (NZ), Danon the Kid (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn), Tourbillon Diamond (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
G60 Legacy Grows In Champions Mile
As the HKJC's Nick Child told jockey Vincent Ho post-race, there comes a point where you run out of superlatives for a horse like Golden Sixty. In scoring for the ninth time at the elite level, he surpasses Beauty Generation (NZ) as the most prolific Group 1 winner in Hong Kong history, becomes the first to win the Champions Mile three times and reportedly assumes the mantle as the world's richest-ever racehorse.
Soon to turn eight, Golden Sixty is still delivering the goods and was even showing a bit of a new dimension Sunday afternoon. Very quickly into stride, he was content to sit atypically handy to the pace so as not to allow California Spangle and BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) to get too far away. Best known for his killer turn of foot, Golden Sixty was allowed to creep forward and split the two front-runners, looking precariously placed for a stride or two, but when asked to sprint, he left his rivals in the dust to record a third straight victory overall since going down to defeat in the Hong Kong Mile.
“We got a sneak through the inside, one off and sort of in second position,” Ho explained. “I told myself before this race to try and enjoy every moment with Golden Sixty because he is seven now and we don't know when he is going to retire but it's the best way to enjoy every single step with him.
“I'm nothing without him. All of the credit goes to Golden Sixty,” the soft-spoken Ho added humbly.
Having annexed two-thirds of the older horse Triple Crown, Golden Sixty could press on for a sweep in the Champions and Chater Cup, where he would find Romantic Warrior again. But trainer Francis Lui is thinking more long-term, with the Hong Kong Mile the objective.
“Now we just keep a little bit longer in between races, before we could keep racing–even some of the Group 3 races–but now we just pick the Group 1 races,” Lui said.
Pedigree Notes:
Golden Sixty's dam, winner of the 2006 G2 Debutante S. for Jim Bolger, is also responsible for the Southern Hemisphere-bred 3-year-old filly Golden Sister (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), an A$425,000 graduate of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, who was unraced in Australia and has since been sent to the U.S., where she was to be covered by Medaglia d'Oro this breeding season. The mare's current yearling is a filly by Medaglia d'Oro's 2015 G1 Golden Slipper S. hero Vancouver (Aus) and she produced a filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) last Oct. 10 before visiting So You Think (NZ) last November.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong FWD CHAMPIONS MILE-G1, HK$20,000,000, Sha Tin, 4-30, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.34, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 7, 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 Kin-wai; J-Vincent Ho Chak-yiu; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: 2x Horse of the Year, 2x Ch. Miler, Ch. Middle Distance Horse & Ch. 4yo-HK, 29-25-2-1, HK$147,930,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus, $134,127. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Beauty Joy (Aus), 126, g, 6, Sebring (Aus)–Impressive Jeuney (Aus), by Jeune (GB). O-Eleanor Kwok Law Kwai Chun; B-; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$4,400,000.
3–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 5, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 2-5, 20-1, 11-5.
Also Ran: Voyage Bubble (Aus), Aegon (NZ), My Oberon (GB), Waikuku (Ire), Healthy Happy (Aus). Scratched: Glorious Dragon (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
'Swey'-ing To The Music
Hustled along early, Lucky Sweynesse was trapped out three deep early in the Chairman's Sprint Prize, but he always traveled like a winner, and when Purton hit the gas in upper stretch, the race was well and truly put to bed. In the end, he had a margin of 3 1/4 lengths on fellow Kiwi-bred Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}). Two-time defending Chairman's winner Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), who proved the chief beneficiary when odds-on Lucky Sweynesse ran into serious trouble when sixth on international day, was a well-beaten third.
In the process, Lucky Sweynesse was securing an HK$5-million bonus for becoming the first since the legendary Silent Witness (Aus) to sweep the Sprint series which also included the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) in February and the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) the following month. The 4-year-old is unbeaten in five starts since the Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 11.
“He's very unassuming and once he gets out of the gates, you can ride him anywhere. Inside, outside,” Purton said. “He's versatile in his races, he can come from back in the field, he's led, he's stalked the leader. He's such a lovely horse and he's very laid-back and he conserves his energy for races.”
Lucky Sweynesse has been registered for the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in early June, a race that would mark his first start at the mile. The Everest in Sydney has also been mentioned as a potential option, but connections are playing it close to the vest for now.
“I think, at this moment, we're thinking about 1200m or 1400m distance,” Man said. “One mile is still a concern, the distance. We're still thinking. I need to discuss with the owner first. When we make the decision, we'll tell everybody.”
Pedigree Notes:
A full-brother to 2021 G1 Queensland Oaks third Signora Nera, Lucky Sweynesse has a 3-year-old half-brother by Per Incanto and a yearling half-brother by Contributer (Ire). Having missed to Sweynesse for 2022, Madonna Mia most recently returned to that stallion.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong CHAIRMAN'S SPRINT PRIZE-G1, HK$20,000,000, Sha Tin, 4-30, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.38, gd.
1–LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ), 126, g, 4, by Sweynesse (Aus) 1st Dam: Madonna Mia (NZ) (SW-NZ, $134,764), by Red Clubs (Ire) 2nd Dam: Hill of Hope (Aus), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Macozie (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
(NZ$90,000 2yo '20 NZBRTR). O-Cheng Ming Leung, Cheng Yu Tung, Cheng Mei Mei & Cheng Yu Wai; B-P L Dombroski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock; T-Manfred Man Ka-leung; J-Zac Purton; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: 16-12-2-1, HK$43,885,200. *Full to Signora Nera (NZ), G1SP-Aus, SP-NZ, $145,027. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Courier Wonder (NZ), 126, g, 5, Sacred Falls (NZ)–Fabulist (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$150,000 Ylg '19 NZBJAN). O-Mr & Mrs Chadwick Mok Cham Hung; B-Waikato Stud Ltd; T-John Size; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$4,400,000.
3–Wellington (Aus), 126, g, 6, All Too Hard (Aus)–Mihiri (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise, Steve McCann (NSW); T-Richard Gibson; J-Alexis Badel; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 1-5, 33-1, 32-5.
Also Ran: Sight Success (Aus), Aguri (Jpn), Duke Wai (NZ), Flaming Rib (Ire), Master Eight (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
An all-the-way winner of January's Hong Kong Classic Mile under a perfectly rationed ride from the visiting Jamie Kah, Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) capitulated without much of a fight after leading through the opening mile of the Hong Kong Classic Cup, fading into sixth behind Super Sunny Sing (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}).
When connections landed gate 14 at Thursday's barrier draw, the already difficult task at hand seemed that much more daunting, as valuable energy would need to be burned to get across to lead, assuming–of course–that was the plan. But trainer Ricky Yiu and jockey Alexis Badel tore the script for Sunday's HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby into bits, settling the gelding last and sustaining a long and wide ride to cause a 45-1 boilover. Classic Mile runner-up Tuchel (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), the mount of Ryan Moore, was outfinished at the fence, while favoured stablemate Beauty Eternal (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was third.
“Of course, this is the most prestigious race in Hong Kong racing and I'm very, very happy and grateful to win this Derby race,” said trainer Ricky Yiu, best known for training the top sprinters Sacred Kingdom (Aus) and Fairy King Prawn (Aus). “Over the trip, 2000 metres, I was a little bit doubtful, and then again with the wide draw. We needed to try something different. We even looked at the previous Derby races, horses drawn from the outside and where they finished and where they made a move,” he explained.
Keefy (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) was kicked into the early lead from his low gate by Derek Leung and set a dawdling tempo from Encountered (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Tuchel landed in the box seat with Beauty Eternal and Zac Purton following his every move, while Voyage Bubble caboosed them into the first bend. Sensing the lack of speed and knowing the Derby was bound to turn into a sit-sprint, Badel slipped Voyage Bubble some rein with better than six furlongs to go and by the time the field had reached the second turn and with a half-mile to race, he was three wide and only about five lengths off the leader.
Continuing to improve, but having not yet been asked for his best, Voyage Bubble was poised to pounce outside of Beauty Eternal as Keefy turned them in. The favourite was given a dig by Purton a furlong and a half from home, but he wasn't able to put any sort of a gap on the stubborn Voyage Bubble to his outside or the rail-skimming Tuchel. Four across the course at the 150m, Voyage Bubble managed to conjure up one final surge and was home narrowly over Tuchel.
It made for a fairy-tale ending to a tumultuous week for Badel, who was unceremoniously booted from defending champion Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (see below).
“Being a jockey, you go through ups and downs and this season has been very difficult for me,” said Badel, who became the first Frenchman to win the Derby since Maxime Guyon on Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in 2011. “I came back from injury and suspensions and it means everything to win such a big race in Hong Kong as a jockey. [Voyage Bubble] was brilliant and I'm very happy for the connections, the owners and myself. I still can't believe it, actually. It's like the race isn't finished yet. It's very special.”
Pedigree Notes:
While officially recognised as a listed restricted stakes, Voyage Bubble is one of two-big race winners in Hong Kong for the increasingly popular Deep Field, whose son Sky Field (Aus) took out the 2021 G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. Winning breeder Torryburn Stud is also responsible for the popular Hong Kong Group 1-winning sprinter Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}).
Voyage Bubble is one of six winners from seven to race from his dam, whose other produce include Group 3 P J Bell S. winner Diddums and the listed-placed Brettan. Raheights is a half-sister to Bannock (Ire) (Bertolini), winner of the Listed Rockingham S. and placed in the G2 Richmond S. and G2 July S. for Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed al Maktoum and Mark Johnston as well as Australian listed winner Moulin Lady (Aus) (Reset {Aus}). The stakes-placed third dam counts Canadian Horse of the Year Never Retreat (Smart Strike) as one of her 10 winners from 14 to the races. The last-listed produce out of Raheights is the 3-year-old gelding Seventies Hit (Aus), second in a Wagga Wagga maiden in two starts.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BMW HONG KONG DERBY 2023-LR, HK$24,000,000, Sha Tin, 3-19, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:02.78, gd.
1–VOYAGE BUBBLE (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Deep Field (Aus) 1st Dam: Raheights (Aus), by Rahy 2nd Dam: Laoub, by Red Ransom 3rd Dam: Lisieux, by Steady Growth
(A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu; J-Alexis Badel; HK$13,680,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-3-1, HK$25,597,725. *1/2 to Diddums (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), GSW-Aus, $164,688.
2–Tuchel (NZ), 126, g, 4, Redwood (GB)–Trista Rossa (Aus), by Testa Rossa (Aus). (NZ$130,000 Ylg '20 NZBJAN). O-Philip Chan Kwok Chung; B-G Harvey; T-John Size; J-Ryan Moore; HK$5,280,000.
3–Beauty Eternal (Aus), 126, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Ithacan Queen (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (A$90,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-P Raftopolous (Vic); T-John Size; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: SHD, NO, HD. Odds: 45-1, 10-1, 13-10.
Also Ran: Keefy (Aus), Straight Arron (Aus), Sword Point (Aus), Sweet Encounter (NZ), Super Sunny Sing (Aus), Encountered (Ire), Galaxy Witness (Aus), Bon's A Pearla (Aus), Beautyverse (NZ), Atullibigeal (Aus), Flagship Warrior (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Lucky Sweynesse Too Strong in QSJC
Desperately unlucky when sixth as the odds-on favourite behind Wellington in December's Hong Kong Sprint, Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) won his third straight since Sunday, posting a relatively comfortable 1 1/4-length victory over G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.
California Spangle, off at 3-5 and cutting back in trip after finishing third to Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Stewards' Cup over a mile Jan. 29, jumped alertly from the rail and looked to hold all the aces, as he galloped them along at nothing more than a hack canter in sectional times well outside standard. But James McDonald, fresh off his victory about the outstanding Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) in Saturday's G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill, kept Lucky Sweynesse within striking distance at all times, and even though California Spangle sprinted home in :21.99, the 4-year-old quickened even more impressively in :21.74 en route to the victory. Defending champion Wellington was well-beaten in third.
“What makes him so talented is that he's not only a very fast horse, but he can sustain the speed over seven furlongs, which not many sprinters can do,” said McDonald, who aslsso teamed with Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in December. “So he's got a great attribute of conserving energy and building into a race like a pretty good horse.”
Winning trainer Manfred Man said Lucky Sweynesse will go for a sweep of the Hong Kong Speed Series in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize back over 1200 metres Apr. 30, with a trip overseas for the G1 Yasuda Kinen not out of the question.
Pedigree Notes:
The lone Group 1 scorer for his sire (by Lonhro {Aus}), Lucky Sweynesse is a full-brother to G1 Queensland Oaks placegetter Signora Nera (NZ). From the extended family of champion Rose of Danehill (Aus) (Danehill) and Group 1 winner Wrap Around (Aus) (Bletchingly {Aus}), Lucky Sweynesse has a 3-year-old half-brother by Per Incanto and a yearling half-brother by Contributer (Ire). Madonna Mia was most recently served by Sweynesse.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000, Sha Tin, 3-19, 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:21.12, gd.
1–LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ), 126, g, 4, by Sweynesse (Aus) 1st Dam: Madonna Mia (NZ) (SW-NZ, $134,764), by Red Clubs (Ire) 2nd Dam: Hill of Hope (Aus), by Danehill 3rd Dam: Macozie (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
(NZ$90,000 2yo '20 NZBRTR). O-Cheng Ming Leung, Cheng Yu Tung, Cheng Mei Mei & Cheng Yu Wai; B-P L Dombrowski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock; T-Manfred Man; J-James McDonald; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 14-10-2-1, HK$29,475,200. *Full to Signora Nera (NZ), G1SP-Aus, GSP-NZ, $145,027. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 5, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,640,000.
3–Wellington (Aus), 126, g, 6, All Too Hard (Aus)–Mihiri (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$70,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Mr & Mrs Michael Cheng Wing On & Jeffrey Cheng Man Cheong; B-Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd, David Paradise, Steve McCann; T-Richard Gibson; J-Ryan Moore; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3, NK. Odds: 8-5, 3-5, 31-5.
Also Ran: Courier Wonder (NZ), Waikuku (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), who won the G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. at Flemington on Saturday, will be pointed toward a start at Royal Ascot, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the 3-year-old filly has won five of her eight starts, and started this campaign with a third in the G2 Mitty's McEwen S. at Moonee Valley in September. She claimed a first Group 1 crown in the Moir S. there on Sept. 23, but could only manage fifth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington on Oct. 29. Given a rest, the Lightning was her first start back.
“From here the dream would be Royal Ascot for everyone involved,” co-trainer Eustace told the paper. “She's shown she likes the straight and I think everyone in the group would be keen to go there.
“Where she goes next, I'm not sure, but ultimately, we'd love to give that a crack.”
Added jockey Jamie Kah, “I thought she would run second today honestly, I didn't think she would be able to beat Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}).
“The race did shape out for her, there was pressure early, but she is half the size of him, and she just does things she shouldn't do, she is just an amazing horse.”
Last year's Royal Ascot sprint darling Nature Strip did not deliver his customary burst of finishing power and finished sixth. It was his third straight start without a win since he captured the G1 T J Smith S., G1 King's Stand S., and G2 Bowermans Shorts in succession in April, June and September.
His jockey, James McDonald, did not offer an excuse and said, “He tried hard.”
