Written by Bren O'Brien
Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Horses bred in Australia and New Zealand swept the 10-race card at Sha Tin on Sunday, highlighted by the victory of Silver Express (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in the Chevalier Cup and new winners for Deep Field and Toronado (Ire).
Silver Express, who was bred by Kevin Heffernan, won three starts in Australia under the name Jolly Sailor for trainer Henry Dwyer before being sold to Hong Kong midway through 2020 and transferring to the stables of John Size.
He broke through for his first win for Size in a Class 3 race in February and has been stepped up to Class 1 level this season. On Sunday, ridden by Vagner Borges, he delivered Size his fourth Chevalier Cup H.
He defeated highly rated stablemate Excellent Proposal (Exceed And Excel), who was without luck and will now head to the G1 Hong Kong Mile in two weeks' time along with another Australian-bred Size runner Lucky Express (Toronado {Ire}), formerly knows as Prince Of Sussex, who was sixth.
“Well, he (Silver Express) hasn’t got the handicap for it (Hong Kong Mile) really and I’m not too concerned about that, I can find another race for him,” Size said. “At first watch, it looked like Excellent Proposal was unlucky and then I’ll see how the other one (Lucky Express) is,” he said.
“Well, he (Silver Express) hasn’t got the handicap for it (Hong Kong Mile) really and I’m not too concerned about that, I can find another race for him." - John Size
Brazilian-born Borges, 28, has forged a fruitful partnership this season with Size, who improved his season’s tally to 15 after the impressive wins of Sight Spirit (Toronado {Ire}) and Blaze Warrior (Sebring).
Silver Express is one of three winners out of Rechichi (Elvstroem), the half-sister to the dam of multiple Group 1 winner Heart Of Dreams (Show A Heart), from a family which also produced G1 The Goodwood H. winner French Clock (Rancho Ruler).
Everyone's contest
Newgate stallion Deep Field got his fifth winner of the Hong Kong season with the success of the Frankie Lor-trained Everyone's Victory in the Class 4 Chevalier Construction H.
Initially named Shiloba when successful for Team Hawkes in a Rosehill trial back in June 2020, Everyone's Victory was having his ninth start when he delivered a breakout performance to win by 2.25l over the 1200 metres with jockey Harry Bentley in the saddle.
"It was a good win, he’s been knocking on the door for a while actually. He’s a horse that closes really well, so the fact the pace was so quick in front gave me something to aim at and he was always going to catch the lead horse,” Bentley said, pocketing his fourth winner of the season.
"It was a good win, he’s (Everyone's Victory) been knocking on the door for a while actually." - Harry Bentley
“It’s been a while so this win is very much welcomed. So, hopefully I can get on a bit of a roll and it’s good to get a winner for Frankie.”
The 4-year-old is out of Equiano (Fr) mare Abolish, and features Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}) as his fourth dam, who is the dam of Street Cry (Ire) and the grandam of Shamardal (USA).
Moreira and Size combine
Promising 4-year-old Blaze Warrior (Sebring) collected his fourth win in five starts, claiming the Class 2 Chevalier Property Investment H. for Size and Moreira.
Bred by Rifa Mustang, Blaze Warrior is building an impressive record and Moreira has a strong opinion of him.
“Once again, he proved to be a classy horse, winning very impressively, so I think what he’s done so far gets him a credit to be considered for the 4-Year-Old Classic Series. He’s a nice horse with a bright future.”
The son of Listed winner Leisele (Exceed And Excel) was purchased by John Foote for $320,000 from the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Another Toronado winner
Size and Moreira were also to the fore with Sight Spirit (Toronado {Ire}) prevailing in the Class 4 Chevalier Healthcare Investment H. over 1400 metres.
He became the fifth winner for Swettenham Stud's Toronado this season in Hong Kong, breaking through at his third start.
“What we expected him to do in his first few runs in Hong Kong, he’s done it today. His trials had been outstanding but he hadn’t been able to produce it until today. The way how he won makes me comfortable to think there are more wins to come,” Moreira said.
“What we expected him (Sight Spirit) to do in his first few runs in Hong Kong, he’s done it today." - Joao Moreira
Sight Spirit was another purchase for Foote, this time through the Mill Park draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, where he cost $80,000.
Bred by the Toorak Thoroughbred Trust, he is out of Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) mare Marmelo, making him a great-grandson of G1 VRC Oaks winner Tributes (Quest For Fame {GB}).
The other Australian-bred winners on the day were Sparkling Dolphin (Exceed And Excel), Sunny Boy (Star Witness) and California Concord (Fastnet Rock).
Nicconi, who had a Group 1 winner in Perth on Saturday, is the sire of New Zealand-bred Sha Tin winner Soulmate (NZ), while the progeny of Ocean Park (NZ) (Light Of Wanshi {NZ}, Declaration Of War {USA} and Brave Power {NZ}) were also in the winners' circle.
