3 minute read
A look at the Aussie and NZ runners going around in the Mile, Cup and Vase at Sha Tin.
Australian and New Zealand gallopers again hold a powerful hand in the Hong Kong Sprint, a race the jurisdiction has won 18 times since 1999, but its influence on the International meeting runs deeper than just speedsters.
Queensland-bred Golden Sixty is chasing a third win in the Hong Kong Mile, there are multiple representatives in the Hong Kong Cup, while Senor Toba is a leading chance in the Hong Kong Vase.
HONG KONG MILE (1600m)
GOLDEN SIXTY (Medaglia d'Oro x Gaudeamus): $120,000 buy for Riversley Park and Enigma Farm, which then traded him at the NZB Ready To Run Sale, where he fetched NZ$300,000. Did his prep work in New Zealand under Graham Richardson, who had him for three trials before sending him north where he has become one of Hong Kong's all-time greats with 25 wins from 29 starts, including Hong Kong Mile wins in 2020 and 2021, and owns a peak Timeform figure of 128.
BEAUTY ETERNAL (Starspangledbanner x Ithacan Queen): A half-sister to Group 3 placegetter Love Sensation, John Foote paid $90,000 for the then-colt at Inglis Classic in 2020 and handed him to Allan and Jason Williams, who got him to win an 1190m Cranbourne trial prior to his departure. Has won eight of his 12 starts and although beaten as a hot favourite in the Hong Kong Derby, he has returned to his best and last start posted a career peak 121 Timeform figure when winning the Group 2 Bochk Jockey Club Mile (1600m). One of two by Starspangledbanner in the race, the other being California Spangle, who is out of the Irish mare Pearlitas Passion.
BEAUTY JOY (Sebring x Impressive Jeuney): Narrowly beaten by Beauty Eternal in the Bochk Jockey Club Mile last time out, Beauty Joy started his career in Western Australia for his breeder Darren McAuliffe under the name Talladega, as whom he won four in a row to start his career, culminating with a 2-1/4-length romp in the Listed JC Roberts Stakes (1800m). Joined Tony Cruz's yard after that and has won another five from 23, including two Group 3 events, and was second to the mighty Golden Sixty in the Group 1 Champions Mile in April this year.
LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO: (Kermadec x Jacquetta): Passed-in as both a yearling and two-year-old in-training in New Zealand, the Trelawney Stud-bred gelding found his way to Singapore after a trial win at Te Teko and has risen to become that country's last champion, winning 17 of 22 starts for Dan Meagher.
VOYAGE BUBBLE: (Deep Field x Raheights): By a stallion who has taken all before him in Hong Kong, having been purchased by Ricky You for $380,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Sale. A winner of five of 13 starts and although comfortably held by the two Beautys – Eternal and Joy – last time out, he did have Beauty Eternal's measure in the Group 1 Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
HONG KONG CUP (2000m)
MONEY CATCHER (Ferlax x Warren's Sister): The first of four Australian or New Zealand-bred Cup runners, each of whom filled top-four positions in the Group 2 Bochk Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at their most recent runs. The third placegetter in that event, Money Catcher was initially sold for NZ$13,000 through the Karaka May sale before realising $60,000 at the NZ Ready To Run Sale. Money Catcher had eight starts in NZ under the name Jason Belltree before heading to Hong Kong, including second placings to Rocket Spade in the Auckland Guineas (1600m) and Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Group 2 level.
STRAIGHT ARRON (Fastnet Rock x Imperial Lass): Started his career in Australia in the care of Chris Waller, with whom he won two of four starts, including the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. Out of a half-sister to the dam of ATC Australian Derby winner Tavago, Straight Arron – a $270,000 Inglis Easter yearling – has won four of 12 starts in Hong Kong and led home the Aus/NZ first four in the Bochk Jockey Club Cup.
SWORD POINT (American Pharoah x Jazz Song): A $750,000 buy for Waller and Guy Mulcaster at the 2020 Magic Millions' January sale, the gelding out of a daughter of Danny O'Brien's Group 1 winner Absolut Glam took four starts to break his maiden in Australia but won again two starts later and was sold after finishing third in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m). He has won twice more in Hong Kong, and finished second to Straight Arron in the Bochk Jockey Club Cup.
NIMBLE NIMBUS (Sacred Falls x Marahau): A NZ$100,000 Karaka yearling buy for Ricky Yiu, the Waikato Stud-bred gelding did not race or trial in New Zealand, starting his career in Hong Kong, where he has won five of 24 starts and finished fourth in the Bochk Jockey Club Cup.
HONG KONG VASE (2400m)
SENOR TOBA (Toronado x Bahamas): A Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) winner and Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) runner-up in six starts for Chris Waller in Australia, the David Peacock-bred gelding headed to Hong Kong at the conclusion of his three-year-old season and has won three of 21 starts, including two Group 3 events. The first foal from Bahamas, a half-sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Affair To Remember, Senor Toba is a half-brother to Berkeley Square.
Senor Toba is not the only Vase winner who traces back to Australia with the Aidan O'Brien-trained dual Group 1 winner WARM HEART a daughter of Galileo and Sea Siren, the Fastnet Rock mare who was a three-time Group 1 winner in Australia before being purchased by Coolmore and exported to Ireland.
