Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
The curtain came down on the 2022/23 Hong Kong racing season on Sunday, with Sha Tin hosting an 11-race card. The main event was Race 8 - the Hong Kong Racehorse Owners’ Association H. - a Class 1 over 1600 metres - and it was the Churchill (Ire) gelding Encountered (Ire) that came out on top.
Trained by Manfred Man, who looks after the world’s highest-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), Encountered won by 0.3l in the hands of Derek Leung.
“I’m a little bit surprised. His first win in Hong Kong was in Class 3 and now he’s just won in Class 1,” Man said. “But his form is good. Let’s see where he goes from here. The season has been very good. I’m very happy.”
“I’m a little bit surprised. His (Encountered) first win in Hong Kong was in Class 3 and now he’s just won in Class 1.” - Manfred Man
Leung added: “He had a good run, last time he won super but this time was much more difficult and back to Sha Tin. It was a very strong field (on Sunday) and it was a good win. He keeps improving, he stays on and he was very impressive (on Sunday).”
Formerly trained in Ireland, Encountered is from the Listed placegetter Enrol (GB) (Pivotal (GB}) and she has thrown the Group 2 winner Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Enrol is a three-quarter sister to Rebecca Rolfe (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) - a Group 3 victress and Group 3 placegetter who was named Joint Champion Older Female Sprinter in Italy in 2010. Rebecca Rolfe has produced the Listed winner Rebecca Rocks (GB) (Exceed And Excel).
Australasian stallions dominated the final day of the season, with Super One, Dissident, Turn Me Loose (NZ), Spill The Beans, Sebring and Not A Single Doubt all siring a winner.
The recently retired Deep Field enjoyed another brilliant term in Hong Kong, successfully defending his Sires’ Premiership. He had 20 winners tally 38 wins (from 49 runners) and his progeny amassed HK$74,822,097 (AU$14 million). Deep Field’s star performer was the Hong Kong Derby hero Voyage Bubble, while Howdeepisyourlove was crowned Champion Griffin.
Starspangledbanner - who will return to Coolmore (from Rosemont Stud) this season and is the sire of the brilliant California Spangle (Ire) - finished second behind Deep Field by earnings, while Sweynesse was fourth.
Deep Field was crowned Champion Hong Kong Sire for the 2022/23 season
Per Incanto (USA) finished second behind Deep Field for winners, while Sweynesse led the way in terms of stakes wins with seven.
Fastnet Rock was the Champion Broodmare Sire - he had 18 winners and 28 wins from 39 runners, with the G1 Champions and Chater Cup hero Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galilelo {Ire}) - a son of the great Atlantic Jewel - his top earner with HK58,215,120 (AU$10.9 million).
Seltsam becomes 45th stakes winner for Henny Hughes
Henny Hughes (USA) colt Seltsam (Jpn) scored an upset victory in Saturday’s G3 Hakodate Nisai S. the 2-year-old is now two from two after debuting with a win in a New Comer race at the same track last month.
From the winless King Kamehameha (Jpn) mare Rosarium (Jpn), Seltsam is closely related to Rose Kingdom (Jpn) - the 2010 G1 Japan Cup hero and Champion 2YO Colt in Japan in 2009.
On Sunday, the G3 Hakodate Kinen was taken out by Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {Ger}). It was the first stakes win for the 4-year-old, who has previously placed in Group 2 company.
Rousham Park is also out of a King Kamehameha mare - Reinette Groove (Jpn). She won three races and is a blood-sister to the multiple Group 1 scorer and Group 1-producing stallion Duramente (Jpn). He is the sire of crack filly Liberty Island (Jpn) - a daughter of Yankee Rose (All American), among others. Reinette Groove is also a three-quarter sister to Rulership (Jpn) - he triumphed in top company and has produced several elite-level winners, including the 2019 G1 Caulfield Cup hero Mer De Glace (Jpn).
Chukyo hosted a Listed event on Sunday - the Meitetsu Hai - and it was won by the Reach The Crown (Jpn) 4-year-old Ater Astraea (Jpn).
She is closely related to the 10-time winner Centurion (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) - a Group 3 victress.
