Written by Alan Carasso
In this new series, we take a look at Australasian-bred horses down to make their initial starts in Hong Kong -horses either unraced (PPG-privately purchased griffins) or previously raced in Australia and New Zealand (PP-private purchases)– in addition to progressive horses returning from a spell.
The horses listed below have been selected based on notable pedigrees, sales history and/or previous racetrack performances. Tuesday’s holiday meeting at Sha Tin features not only the seasonal debut of two-time Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock), but also the first local appearances by some highly touted runners:
R1 - Chengdu H., HK$967k (AU$182k), 1200m
Good View Clarico
(c, 3-year-old, I Am Invincible x Andromache (NZ) (Charge Forward)
Blake Shinn has the call for Dennis Yip aboard this 3-year-old entire, a $750,000 purchase by Orbis Bloodstock out of the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and an own brother to Pageantry, herself a debut winner at Seymour in 2017.
The colt’s dual stakes-placed dam is a daughter of South African champion and dual Group 1 stakes winner Mythical Play (NZ) (Defensive Play {USA}), granddam of Group stakes placed Estidraaj (Hard Spun {USA}) from this same Danzig (USA) sire line.
Good View Clarico led for the bulk of a 1200 metre trial at Happy Valley on September 20 before crossing the line third. Breeder: Yarraman Park Stud Pty Ltd (NSW).
Good View Clarico as a yearling
R8 - Shanghai H., HK$1.45m (AU$274k), 1200m
Namjong Sings
(g, 4-year-old, Your Song x Breezing Home (War Pass {USA})
Produced by a half-sister to stakes winner and multiple group stakes placed Older Than Time (Don Eduardo {NZ}), the gelding was trained in Australia by Mark Newnham as On The Top and was well-beaten in his first two runs before breaking his maiden at Kembla Grange last December and adding a BM64 H. at Newcastle on Boxing Day.
South African Lyle Hewitson has the call Tuesday and guided Namjong Sings to an on-pace runner-up effort in a 1000 metre trial up the Sha Tin straight on September 10. The in-form Danny Shum handles the training duties. Breeder: Gooree Park Stud Pty Ltd (NSW).
R10 - Beijing H., HK$2.1m (AU$396k), 1200m
Aethero
(g, 3-year-old, Sebring x Pinocchio (Encosta de Lago)
No 3-year-old has ever managed to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but the hulking Aethero takes his first step along that trail Tuesday. A $575,000 acquisition by George Moore Bloodstock out of the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the chestnut - who reminds many of the great Able Friend (Shamardal {USA}) - toyed with his rivals in a pair of Griffins races, then made light work of Class 3 company from barrier 14 when last seen on July 1.
The half-brother to The TAB Everest- and Hong Kong-bound Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) is out of a sister to champion Racing to Win and Group stakes winner Purrealist (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).
He tuned up for this return with an all-the-way ‘win’ in a 1000 metre trial on September 24. Breeder: Wallings Bloodstock Pty Ltd (NSW).
Aethero as a yearling
Beauty Rush
(g, 4-year-old, Helmet x Syncopated (Lonhro)
Racing as a homebred for Godolphin under the care of James Cummings, this gelding - by the sire of two-time G1 Dubai World Cup hero Helmet - returned from a 20-week spell to rattle off three victories in a row in early 2019, a pair of Sandown handicaps ahead of a handy 1.25l success in the G3 Manfred S. at Caulfield February 2.
Out of a winning half-sister to stakes winner and Group 1 stakes placed Warm Love (Octagonal {NZ}), Beauty Rush makes his local debut for John Size and Karis Teetan and was the 4.5l winner of an all-weather barrier trial on September 10. Breeder: Godolphin (NSW).
