Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
The regally bred Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) followed in the footsteps of his Champion Group 1-winning dam, Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), when claiming a deserved first Group 1 success in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.
Placed in both the G1 Hong Kong Cup and G1 Stewards Cup in the past two months, Russian Emperor, who was also runner-up in the Listed Hong Kong Derby last season, got his breakthrough top-flight win, leading home a quinella for his trainer Douglas Whyte.
It was a third Group 1 victory for Australian-born jockey Blake Shinn, who told TDN AusNZ, that all the credit belonged to Whyte and the horse.
"It was fantastic to get him over the line. He's obviously a well-touted horse, being a son of Galileo out of a Champion racehorse in Atlantic Jewel, so he's got a big following, being trained by Aidan O'Brien and coming to Hong Kong from Ireland," Shinn said.
"He'd come so close previously in Group 1s and so to win that on him was such a big thrill."
"He'd (Russian Emperor) come so close previously in Group 1s and so to win that on him was such a big thrill." - Blake Shinn
Shinn's extensive interview with TDN AusNZ will feature in Wednesday's edition.
Russian Emperor was a dominant winner, clearing out to defeat stablemate Savvy Nine (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) by 4.25l, with Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) in third, well-beaten in a result that confirmed somewhat of the changing of the guard.
It was a second Group 1 win for Whyte as a trainer, coming hot on the heels of Stronger's (Not A Single Doubt) success in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup.
"It’s very satisfying, this horse (Russian Emperor) deserves it more than anything but more so the owners. They have been so patient and they’re very good friends of mine and they deserve it – they really do.
"It’s very satisfying, this horse (Russian Emperor) deserves it more than anything but more so the owners." - Douglas Whyte
“The horse has just bounced back from the International Races and he reproduced that in the mile (G1 Stewards’ Cup) and he’s come out today and done what I expected him to do. The rain has helped but, in saying that, he still had to win and he’s just done that."
Russian Emperor is one of just three of Atlantic Jewel's progeny to have raced. The four-time Group 1 winner returned to Australia in 2019, but sadly died, foaling a Justify (USA) colt, in 2020.
Douglas Whyte | Image courtesy of the HKJC
More Glory for Wellington
Australian-bred Wellington (All Too Hard) had already claimed the G1 Chairman's Sprint last season and backed that up with victory in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over the 1400 metres at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Ridden by Alexis Badel for trainer Richard Gibson, Wellington returned to his best form, finishing strongly to defeat Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) by 0.75l, with Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) another 0.5l back in third.
It was an eighth win from 14 career starts for the 5-year-old by All Too Hard, who was bred by a partnership of Kia Ora Stud, David Paradise and Steve McCann.
After enduring bad luck much of the way through his season to date, it was a pleasing change of fortune for Wellington's trainer, Gibson.
"I’m obviously pleased for the horse, just had an irritating start to the season for him. We were lucky to have a horse after the Hong Kong Sprint and all the misfortune that happened to those horses,” Gibson said, referring to the serious fall which marred the Sprint in December.
“As I said before the race today, we were a bit unlucky in running last time so we thought it was the right time to hit 1400 (metres) and I thought he did it with class and style today."
Richard Gibson | Image courtesy of the HKJC
“This year, things haven’t quite gone right for him and we fancied our chances today and the horse delivered. We’ve got the third leg of the Sprint Series and we won’t be travelling with the horse, so we’ll concentrate on the third leg.”
That third leg is the Chairman's Sprint on April 24, where he will look to defend his title
For Badel, it was his second Hong Kong Group 1 on Wellington.
“He’s a brilliant horse and I’m very happy because we’ve been so unlucky the first few runs this season. He deserved a win like this and I’m very happy," he said.
“He’s (Wellington) a brilliant horse and I’m very happy because we’ve been so unlucky the first few runs this season. He deserved a win like this and I’m very happy." - Alexis Badel
“He’s certainly much more laidback, more relaxed than he used to be and that certainly helps the horse to stay the distance like he did today.”
Wellington was sold by Kia Ora as a yearling through the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, where he was purchased by Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm. He arrived with Gibson in 2019 and has been a flagbearer for the stable ever since winning his first three starts.
He is the first foal out of Mihiri (More Than Ready {USA}), who was also bred by Kia Ora, won four races and was placed in a G2 Breeders' Classic. She is from a European family which has produced Group 1 winners such as Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire})
Wellington as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Mihiri, who has one other winner to her credit, Turnstar (Star Turn), produced a sister to Wellington last year.
He becomes the second multiple Group 1 winner by Vinery Stud's All Too Hard, following in the footsteps of Behemoth.
Wellington was one of five Australian-bred winners on the night at Sha Tin, while there were three New Zealand-bred winners as well.
All Too Hard | Standing at Vinery Stud
The good run for the progeny of Deep Field continued with Voyage Bubble breaking through for his first win for Ricky Yiu. The Torryburn Stud-bred 4-year-old became the 10th winner for the Newgate-based sire in Hong Kong this season, putting him just two behind Per Incanto (USA).
Yiu paid $380,000 for Voyage Bubble, who is the half-brother to Group 3 winner Diddums (Snitzel), and stakes-placed Brettan (Commands), through the Torryburn Stud draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
