Written by Alan Carasso
In this ongoing 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.
R2-Tai Po H. (C4), HK$967k (AU$186k), 1650m
Pro Fit (NZ)
(g, 4, Iffraaj {GB} x Tsarina Belle {NZ}, by Stravinsky {USA})
Pro Fit is the third foal to the races for his dam, a close third in the 2005 G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and a half or full sibling to four black-type horses, including the dual Group 2 placed Desert Rain (NZ) (Honor Grades {USA}). Additionally, Tsarina Belle (Stravinsky {USA}) is a half-sister to Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), whose daughter Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) was the 2019 Horse of the Year in New Zealand and took out last year’s G1 Empire Rose S.
Matthew Chadwick has the call for trained Benno Yung atop the NZ$115,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling purchase and turned in some sneaky promising efforts at the trials ahead of this debut.
Pro Fit (NZ) as a yearling
Breeder: Mrs N M Leicester
Consignor: Haunui Farm, agent
Purchaser: Tartan Meadow Bloodstock
R3-Sai Kung H. (C4), HK$967k (AU$186k), 1200m
Daily Delight
(g, 3 Smart Missile x Framboise, by Snippets)
Acquired in utero for $46,000 at the 2016 Inglis Broodmare and Weanling Sale, Daily Delight repaid that bill and then some when hammering for $120,000 at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Exported to New Zealand, he was knocked down for NZ$125,000 after breezing in 11.47s for that year’s NZB Ready To Run Sale.
Watch: Daily Delight breezes for NZBRTR in 2018
Daily Delight is the second to make it to the races from his dam, a half-sister to New Zealand Group 3 winner Triple Gold (NZ) (Gold Crest {USA}) and to It’s A Miracle (NZ) (Hula Chief {NZ}), dam of G1 South Australian Derby third Fitoussi (Hussonet {USA}).
Daily Delight as a yearling
Breeder: Mr E McNulty
Consignor: Supreme Thoroughbreds, agent (INGMAR); Lyndhurst Farm, agent (NZBRTR)
Purchaser: Lyndhurst Farm/Sweetbriar (INGMAR); Wallace Thoroughbreds (NZBRTR)
