Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong
Massive Sovereign sets new record in the Hong Kong Derby
The Dennis Yip-trained Massive Sovereign (No Nay Never {USA}) put in a sensational performance at Sha Tin to claim the 2024 edition of the Hong Kong Derby and provided his trainer with his first victory in the Hong Kong classic.
Massive Sovereign, ridden by the Australian-born Zac Purton, chased gamely to reel in the runaway leader Ka Ying Generation (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and held the late charge of Galaxy Patch (Wandjina).
The gelding posted a time of 1.59.85, a new record for the Hong Kong Derby since the race distance was changed to 2000 metres. Massive Sovereign’s time bettered the mark of the Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty’s (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) 2.00.15 set in 2020.
“It’s very exciting. I think the Hong Kong Derby is more important than winning a trainer championship for me,” Yip told local media.
“Massive Sovereign is a very special horse with a good mind. For the last 200 metres, I was very nervous, but I relied on Zac (Purton). He is the Champion Jockey in Hong Kong, and everything was good with the horse.
“Massive Sovereign is a very special horse with a good mind. For the last 200 metres, I was very nervous, but I relied on Zac (Purton). He is the Champion Jockey in Hong Kong, and everything was good with the horse.” - Dennis Yip
“This horse, the first day he arrived in Hong, Zac sent me the video of Massive Sovereign winning at Leopardstown. Zac told me he thought he was a nice horse and asked me if he could ride him.”
Yip indicated the G1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin on April 28 is the next port of call for Massive Sovereign.
Massive Sovereign was purchased for €620,000 (AU$1,025,976) by MV Magnier from the 2021 Goffs Ireland Orby Yearling Sale and raced initially as Broadhurst (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) by Coolmore and partners and in training with Aidan O’Brien.
Massive Sovereign | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
He broke his maiden at start three on the all-weather at Dundalk in April last year and won a Leopardstown H. in September before he changed hands privately and was sent to Hong Kong.
Massive Sovereign’s victory provided his Coolmore Stud-based sire No Nay Never (USA) with his 58th stakes winner worldwide and his first in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Derby winner is the first foal from the Myboycharlie (Ire) mare Sweet Charity (Fr). She won three races, including the Listed Prix de Liancourt and was placed in the G2 Santa Ana S.
Debut Hong Kong winner for Brave Smash
Yarraman Park’s Brave Smash (Jpn) sired his second winner from two runners in Hong Kong when Divano scored on his debut at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Divano, trained by Francis Lui, had looked promising when winning a trial over 1000 metres at Conghua on the turf earlier in March. Divano made his race debut in the Class 4 Furore H. over 1200 metres on Sunday.
The 3-year-old gelding, ridden by Lyle Hewitson, defeated Happy For All (Impending) by 1.3l, while Geneva (Capitalist) finished in third.
Divano is the third foal from the three-time winner Been Scene (Bianconi {USA}). The gelding was a $57,500 pinhook by Jim Carey from the draft of Erinvale Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Newgate Farm reoffered Divano at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where Ryan and Alexiou Racing and D Raphael paid $90,000.
Californiatotality salutes at Sha Tin
On Sunday, $900,000 yearling Californiatotality (Zoustar) won his maiden at Sha Tin for Tony Cruz. The 3-year-old gelding, ridden by Brenton Avdulla, took out the Class 4 Luger H.
Californiatotality was a 1.3l victor over Marado (NZ) (Pins) and Joyful Prosperity (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).
The well-related gelding is the fifth foal from the Nadeem mare Total Attraction. She was placed in the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic and the G2 Let’s Elope S.
Total Attraction is the dam of the Listed Woodland's S. victress Pretty In Pink (Sebring). Segenhoe Stud offered Californiatotality at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Asian Bloodstock Services paid $900,000.
Californiatotality was one of two winners on Sunday’s Sha Tin program for his Widden Stud-based sire Zoustar, with his 4-year-old son Patch Of Theta scoring back-to-back victories in Hong Kong.
Japan
16 Group 1 winners for Dark Angel
The G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo on Sunday went the way of Manabu Ikezoe’s Mad Cool (Jpn) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Ridden by Ryusei Sakai, defeated Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), who was placed in the event last. Meanwhile, the Australian-bred Hong Kong Group 1 winner Victor The Winner (Toronado {Jpn}) was game in third place.
Mad Cool is the 16th Group 1 winner for his Yeomanstown Stud-based sire, Dark Angel (Ire), who has had 102 stakes worldwide. Mad Cool is the seventh foal from the Indian Ridge (Ire) mare Mad About You (Ire). She won three races, including the G3 Gladness S. and was placed in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and the G1 Pretty Polly S.
