Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}), winner of the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot last week for PK Siu and Ed Walker, has run his last race in Britain and is set to continue his career in Hong Kong.
The winner of a Newmarket novice in April, Waipiro was then second in the Lingfield Derby Trial and sixth in the Derby itself. His half-brother Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was a multiple Group 1 winner in Hong Kong in the same colours, landing the Stewards' Cup twice, including when beating Golden Sixty (Aus) in 2022, and the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.
Their breeder Shane Molan of Riversfield Stud featured in Sunday's TDN.
Confirming the news, Lambourn-based Walker said, “He will continue his career in Hong Kong, unfortunately. Obviously the Siu family, who own him, have lots of horses in training in Hong Kong.
“The reason I have horses for the Siu family, and they are such great supporters, is to produce horses for Hong Kong.”
The trainer continued, “He is the perfect horse for the Hong Kong Derby. Mr Siu tries to buy one or two horses for the Hong Kong Derby every year and why would you not take Waipiro and try and buy another one?
“Every owner in Hong Kong wanting a European horse for the Derby would want Waipiro. He's the perfect horse, he loves fast ground, he's got a high cruising speed, huge talent, 10 furlongs–he's the right horse for the job.”
He added: “His half-brother which they owned, Waikuku, was a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, having finished runner-up in the [Hong Kong] Derby in 2019.
“There was always a good chance they would take him to Hong Kong. He'll probably win a lot more prize-money in Hong Kong than he would in Britain.”
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