Cover image courtesy of the HKJC
Seventeen of the 34 feature contests were taken out by Australian-bred gallopers and five by New Zealanders.
Twelve internationally rated Group 1 races took place in Hong Kong over the course of the season and half of those were won by horses bred in Australasia.
And what grand horses they are, the G1 Hong Kong Mile hero Golden Sixty (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}), the G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Lucky Sweyenesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), the G1 Steward's Cup winner Voyage Bubble (Deep Field), the Centenary Sprint Cup winner Victor The Winner (Toronado {Ire}), the Chairman's Sprint Prize winner Invincible Sage (Thronum) and the G1 Champions Mile winner Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner).
The latter's sire Starspangledbanner claims further success with his Irish bred son California Spangle taking out the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (as well as the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai) and securing the title of Champion Miler.
Starspangledbanner | Standing at Coolmore
Three of the recently named Hong Kong Horse Of The Year titles went to Australian bred horses, Golden Sixty crowned Champion Miler and Galaxy Patch Champion Griffin and Champion 4YO whilst Kai Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) was recognised as the Most Improved Horse.
Son of Zoustar wins first Group race of the season
The racing season kicked off in good style for Australian horses with Healthy Happy (Zoustar) taking out the G3 Celebration Cup last September.
“It was a lovely run, he’s a lovely horse,” said his jockey Alexis Badel. “He flew from the machines, so I was left alone very easily and I then increased a little bit the pace and the horse is very good early season using these tactics.”
Zoustar | Standing at Widden
Bred by Lachlan River Bloodstock, he was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $375,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions. Racing (as Leviathan) five times in New South Wales for the Peter & Paul Snowden stable, he recorded wins on the Kensington and Randwick tracks.
The winner of another five races for Frankie Lor in Hong Kong - three in stakes company, he is one of the three winners for the four times stakes placed multiple city winner Lady Lakshmi (Lonhro) whose Listed winning dam Dashing Granada (Keltrice) also produced the dual Listed winner Celebrity Girl (Starcraft {NZ}) whose daughter Instant Celebrity (Not A Single Doubt) won the G1 Robert Sangster S.
Gives everything he's got
A week later saw the running of the G3 National Day Cup, a race that went to the Francis Lui trained Stoltz (More Than Ready {USA}) who showed plenty of heart with Zac Purton aboard.
“He is very honest horse, when the going gets tough, he gives everything he’s got,” Purton said.
“He (Stoltz) is very honest horse, when the going gets tough, he gives everything he’s got.” - Zac Purton
Bred by Kia Ora Stud, the half-brother to the South African based dual Group 2 winner Nafaayes (Exceed And Excel) out of the Group 3 mare Decelerator (USA) (Dehere {USA}) raced nine times for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable - winning three races at Wyong.
Adding another six victories to his record, he was a $200,000 Magic Millions graduate purchased by Pamsel Investments and Clarke Bloodstock, later purchased online (2021 Inglis Digital) by his current owner Josiah Ma for $130,000.
Next up for the Australian breed was Sight Success (Magnus) who was able to take out the G2 Premier Bowl for the John Size stable - that trainer describing the gelding nas “a very consistent horse, very honest. He always puts in a good run and seems to be able to sustain a long preparation.”
Bred by Graham Daws, the son of the Moonee Valley winner Tarp (Bletchley Park {Ire}) was purchased by Price Bloodstock for $45,000 at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions. He won a Murray Bridge trial under the care of Richard and Chantelle Jolly before heading to Hong Kong where two of his wins have come at Group level.
A quality animal
“This horse is a quality animal,” trainer Caspar Fownes said after Straight Arron (Fastnet Rock) won the G2 Jockey Club Cup in November. It was the second Hong Kong Group winner for the horse who at his third start for Chris Waller won the G3 Carbine Club S. at Randwick.
Bred by Torryburn Stud, he was purchased by Waller for $270,000 at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. His dam is the stakes placed Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) from the family of one of Australia's all time favourite gallopers, the late Lonhro.
Straight Arron | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Also from the family of a high class stallion (or two!) is Beauty Eternal (Starspangledbanner) who won the G2 Jockey Club Mile in mid-November. Boasting Storm Cat (USA) and Royal Academy (USA) amongst his relations, he was bred by Peter Raftopoulos and purchased by John Foote for $90,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic.
Heading to Hong Kong off a Cranbourne jump-out victory for which he was prepared by Allan and Jason Williams under the name of Teamyouessa, Beauty Eternal was again in winning form in April, taking out the G1 Champions Mile. His 17 starts have yielded nine victories and six placings.
Lucky and talented
Another horse to go on to Group 1 glory after an early season stakes success was Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) who won the G2 Jockey Club Sprint in November and the G1 Hong Kong International Sprint the following month.
Also a winner, at his most recent outing in April, of the G2 Sprint Cup, the Manfred Man trained gelding has built up an outstanding record with 16 wins and five placings from 24 starts.
Lucky Sweynesse | Image courtesy of the HKJC
Hugh Bowman was all praise for Lucky Sweynesse after his latest win, saying that “he needs no introduction. He is Hong Kong’s best sprinter and he has been for some time. He is an ultra-consistent horse and it is an honour to ride horses of this calibre.”
Bred by P L Dombroski, Explosive Breeding Ltd & S A Sharrock, Lucky Sweynesse was a $90,000 purchase for J & I Bloodstock at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run. He headed to Hong Kong off a trial victory at Ellerslie.
He is a son of the Listed winner Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs {Ire}) whose dual Group 3 winning third dam Beach Gown (Cerreto {Ire}) produced the Group 1 sprinter Wrap Around (Bletchingly), grandam of the dual Group 1 winner Fashions Afield (Redoute's Choice).
Golden Sixty - A once in a lifetime horse
Described by Francis Lui as a “once in a lifetime” horse, the champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) at the age of eight added a third G1 Hong Kong Internatioal Mile to his record in December, becoming just the second horse to claim that achievement; Good Ba Ba (USA) (Lear Fan {USA}) the other.
Three times crowned Hong Kong's Horse Of The Year with four Champion Miler titles, Golden Sixty, Hong Kong's most prolific Group 1 horse with ten victories at that elite level, was warmly welcomed back to scale as the crows favourite. And his jockey's favourite as well, Vincent Ho describing him as "a monster."
Golden Sixty | Image courtesy of the HKJC
“When I asked him for an effort, he lengthened like I can’t believe, he’s still got that turn of foot. It’s crazy! he enthused.
“He is a horse who loves racing," Ho continued, "he enjoys it, he enjoys the crowd, he is just an amazing horse.”
Francis Lui agreed, describing Golden Sixty as “my champion.”
“He (Golden Sixty) is a horse who loves racing... he enjoys it, he enjoys the crowd, he is just an amazing horse.” - Vincent Ho
“I think he enjoyed the race, he knew what to do... he showed good fighting heart.”
Bred by Asco International (aka the Hutchins family's Element Hill), Golden Sixty was sold at the 2017 Magic Millions for $120,000 to Riversley Park and Enigma Farm who took him to the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run where Lui purchased him for $300,000.
He is out of the Group 2 mare Gaudeamus (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) who has produced another two black-type performers, the stakes placed Rainbow Connection (Choisir) and Igitur (Helmet).
