While two-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) are not taking part in Sunday's Jockey Club races, the majority of the jurisdiction's remaining top gallopers will line up to take their chances in the trio of local lead-ups to the Longines Hong Kong International Races in three weeks' time.
One horse not missing in action this weekend is champion sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}), who is somewhat remarkably in search of a first victory in his third start of his current preparation. The 5-year-old, who won the G2 Jockey Club Sprint at a remarkable $4.50 (7-2) last year and was a troubled sixth in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, has been second at each of his two starts this term under handicap conditions and carries a five-pound penalty here, but is still far better off in the weights and should be able to strut his stuff with regular rider Zac Purton up.
After giving some consideration to prepping in the G2 Jockey Club Mile, the connections of Golden Sixty ultimately decided to go first-up in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, a race he won in 2020 and 2021. California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) lowered his colors on international day last December and will be tough to reel in facing just four rivals Sunday. Hugh Bowman rode the 5-year-old to a weight-carrying victory in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. when returning to action Oct. 15, but having been injured in a spill last weekend, Matthew Chadwick takes over in the saddle for trainer Tony Cruz.
Having only recently cleared quarantine following his historic victory in the G1 W S Cox Plate, Romantic Warrior is also in absentia this weekend, leaving a field of nine to contest the G2 Jockey Club Cup over the 2000 metres. Chadwick has the call aboard last year's HH The Amir's Trophy hero Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Douglas Whyte and should strip fitter for his comebacking 10th in the Sha Tin Trophy. Sword Point (Aus) (American Pharoah), an impressive course-and-distance winner in Class 2 in July, also makes his second start of the season after finishing sixth, beaten under a length, at the top of C2 over 1800 metres Oct. 22. He'll tote 123 pounds this time after carrying 135 on his return to the races.
Further easing in the local COVID restrictions meant that the biggest crowd since January–better than 13,000 racegoers–took in Sunday's BOCHK Jockey Club meeting at Sha Tin in person and were they ever rewarded. Making their seasonal debuts and having a single prep towards next month's Longines Hong Kong International Races, both two-time defending Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and last year's champion 4-year-old Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) were outstanding in taking out the G2 Jockey Club Mile and G2 Jockey Club Cup, respectively, while Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) confirmed the high regard in which he is held with a first victory at group level in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint.
G60 Overcomes Slow Tempo and Chief Rival in Mile
The last time Golden Sixty was as long as even-money was when winning the Hong Kong Classic Cup in February 2020 and you have to go back to September 2019 for the last time he was not favoured in a race. But given the recency and pace advantage possessed by the upstart California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), the tote read Golden Sixty 2.0 (evens) and 1.6 (3-5) on his younger rival. It would prove value in the end.
Allowed to find his footing at the tail of the pack, Golden Sixty was given a typically patient ride by Vincent Ho as California Spangle ambled them along through an opening 800 metres in :49.23. Ho went for Golden Sixty perhaps a few strides earlier than normal and the 7-year-old had the front-runner in his sights at the top of the straight. California Spangle loves a fight as evidenced by his battles with Romantic Warrior in last year's Classic series and, having spent little in transit, had something left when confronted at the 200m. But Golden Sixty, who routinely does things horses just don't do, finished off his race in a wicked :21.32 and clawed back California Spangle–who ran home in :21.60–for the victory while carrying a five-pound penalty.
“It was crawling at first and the turn I knew, around the 600 [metre mark], that Zac [Purton] will pick up the pace for sure, so I was just keeping an eye on what he was doing and I had to come out and make my move earlier,” Ho said. “I knew Golden Sixty would have the heart to run him down but he's only 80 percent fit, so the last bit is his mental toughness. Definitely all credit to him and the team–we're looking forward to December now,” and a chance to match the Hong Kong Mile three-peat of Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan).
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK PRIVATE WEALTH JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$5,000,000, Sha Tin, 11-20, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.02, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 128, 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 K W Lui; J-Vincent C Y Ho; HK$2,850,000. Lifetime Record: 2x Horse of the Year, Ch. Middle Distance Horse, Ch. 4yo & MG1SW-HK, 25-22-1-1, HK$116, 250,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 123, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony A S Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,100,000.
3–Waikuku (Ire), 128, g, 7, Harbour Watch (Ire)–London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€33,000 Ylg '16 TATSEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Shane Molan; T-John Size; J-Silvestre de Sousa; HK$5750,000.
Margins: NK, 2H, 2 1/4. Odds: 1-1, 3-5, 31-1.
Also Ran: More Than This (GB), Excellent Proposal (Aus), Turin Redsun (GB), Kings Shield. Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Romantic Warrior Picks Up Where He Left Off
Last seen completing the rare BMW Hong Kong Derby/G1 FWD QE II Cup double, Romantic Warrior saw his return to the races delayed by a wrenched ankle in August, but a pair of stiff 1600-metre trials had him on go and he returned victoriously Sunday.
Ridden positively from the widest barrier by James McDonald–subbing for the recovering Karis Teetan–Romantic Warrior landed in the one-out and one-back spot as recent G3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse H. winner Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) set reasonable fractions. Felt for with about three furlongs to race, Romantic Warrior was finding his best stride approaching the final 400 metres and kicked home strongly to score cosily from perfect-trip Tourbillon Diamond (Aus) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) for a Danny Shum-trained quinella. Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) stayed on well for third at a trip short of his best.
“First of all, I would just like to send my well wishes to Karis,” said McDonald, winner of this year's G1 W.S. Cox Plate and completing a double on the program. “Obviously, he would [normally] be on this horse and it's a pleasure to be warming the seat for him for when he gets back–and I'm sure he'll be back very shortly. [Romantic Warrior] can only improve off that. I thought he did enough in the end–and probably had enough in the end–but he's a great horse and he knows where that winning post is.”
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$5,000,000, Sha Tin, 11-20, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.23, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 128, g, 4, 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 C S Shum; J-James McDonald; HK$2,850,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo & G1SW-HK, 9-8-0-0, HK$42,815,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), 123, g, 6, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Modave (NZ), by Montjeu (Ire). (A$7,000 Ylg '18 MMJUN). O-Shum Mak Ling, Jimmy Tang, Bennie Lau Yuk Lung & William Shum Wai Lam; B-Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Danny C S Shum; J-Alexis Badel; HK$1,100,000.
3–Senor Toba (Aus), 123, g, 5, Toronado (Ire)–Bahamas (Aus), by Teofilo (Ire). (A$180,000 Ylg '19 INGMAR). O-Willie May Syndicate; B-D Peacock (SA); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Vincent C Y Ho; HK$5750,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 6-5, 77-10, 8-1.
Also Ran: Ka Ying Star (GB), Money Catcher (NZ), Panfield (Chi), Beauty Joy (Aus), Savvy Nine (Fr), Russian Emperor (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Redemption For Lucky Sweynesse
While the progressive Lucky Sweynesse may have been somewhat disappointing when failing to take advantage of an 11-pound weight concession from champion sprinter Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. four weeks ago, the 4-year-old turned the tables Sunday with a determined victory in the Jockey Club Sprint.
Asked for some early speed by Zac Purton, Lucky Sweynesse secured a good spot in centerfield as triple-digit longshots Kurpany (Fr) (Mayson {GB}) and Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) ensured a good gallop. In the slipstream of the odds-on Wellington as they raced into the final three furlongs, Lucky Sweynesse was pulled out about seven wide off the home corner and rolled up outside of Wellington at the 200-metre mark. But Wellington could find no more soon after and Lucky Sweynesse went on with it to score narrowly. Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}), last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint favourite who went down in that nasty fall, finished gamely for second, while Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto) came from well back to complete a New Zealand-bred 1-2-3. The winner covered his final half-mile in :43.62.
“I thought it was a soft win. He's done a good job, he's a horse on the way up,” said Purton. “He didn't begin that great. I didn't have any option but to take the spot I got, which worked out well with the way the race was run.”
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong BOCHK PRIVATE BANKING JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$5,000,000, Sha Tin, 11-20, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:07.55, gd.
1–LUCKY SWEYNESSE (NZ), 123, 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) 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST STAKES WIN. (NZ$90,000 2yo '20 NZBRTR). O-Cheng Ming Leung; B-P L Dombroski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock; T-Manfred K L Man; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,850,000. Lifetime Record: 10-7-2-1, HK$12,752,200. *Full to Signora Nera (Aus), 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–Lucky Patch (NZ), 123, g, 6, El Roca (Aus)–Gould (Aus), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (A$40,000 Ylg '18 MMJUN). O-Patch Syndicate; B-G Harvey; T-Pierre P C Ng; J-Jerry C L Chau; HK$1,100,000.
3–Duke Wai (NZ), 123, g, 7, Per Incanto–Swan Lake (NZ), by Green Perfume. (NZ$40,000 Wlg '16 NZBMAY; NZ$45,000 Ylg '17 NZBFEB; NZ$70,000 RNA 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Herman Wai Ho Man; B-Waikato Stud Ltd; T-Pierre P C Ng; J-Harry Bentley; HK$5750,000.
Margins: NK, 1, HF. Odds: 7-2, 30-1, 68-1.
Also Ran: Sight Success (Aus), Cordyceps Six (Aus), Wellington (Aus), Stronger (Aus), Sky Field (Aus), Super Wealthy (Aus), Courier Wonder (NZ), Computer Patch (Aus), Winning Dreamer (NZ), Kurpany (Fr), Master Eight (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
Having passed the potentially gut-busting early-season group handicaps, where he'd have been forced to concede plenty of weight, reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) makes his much-anticipated 6-year-old debut in Sunday's G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse.
By all accounts, it is a much more mature version of Golden Sixty, who was last seen taking out the G1 FWD Champions Mile nearly seven months ago to run his winning streak to 14, three wins shy of the record held by the legendary Silent Witness (Aus). One of those horses that does just enough in his trials heretofore, the bay has put his rivals to the sword and is unbeaten in three morning hit-outs ahead of this comebacker. He should be fit enough to dispatch of a familiar cast en route to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 12.
“He's good, he's healthy. He's more relaxed as you can see even in his gallops,” trainer Francis Lui told the HKJC notes team.
“I think he's getting more mature all the time. He's very well. He's good. We have this Sunday's race and then the Hong Kong Mile and then we'll see after that what we do,” he added.
Francis Lui shares the latest on Golden Sixty (R7) as the brilliant son of Medaglia d'Oro eyes a 15th consecutive win tomorrow afternoon at Sha Tin. #HKIR#HKracingpic.twitter.com/P7QsMgI0Ia
Sunday's co-featured G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200mT) also lures a pair of top-shelf runners who race first-up in the form of Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) and the evergreen Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}). Wellington won four of his six starts last term, capping the season with a 1 1/2-length defeat of the re-opposing Computer Patch (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize Apr. 25. Hot King Prawn is the defending champion of this event and bounced back from a subpar seventh as the favourite in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint to earn a long-overdue top-level tally in the Centenary Sprint Cup. He was last seen finishing fifth, four lengths in back of Wellington, in a Class 1 handicap over course and distance Mar. 13.
“He's always been quite an easy horse to get fit and, of course, he's a very good horse so he always gives me a good feel,” said jockey Alexis Badel of Wellington. “He might need that first piece of competition, he might need to have that run but he looks good, fresh and happy. His action is good as well.”
Panfield (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky), third in last year's BMW Hong Kong Derby, earned champion stayer honors with a victory in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400mT) in May and was highly impressive in taking out the G3 Sha Tin Trophy H. over an insufficient 1600 metres Oct. 17. The 5-year-old entire is the marquee horse in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup over a much more suitable 10-furlong trip, a race he'll be using as a steppingstone to either the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup–the richest event on International Day Dec. 12–or the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over the 2400 metres.
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
