Hong Kong report: Group 1s beckon Bundle Award after Memorial Cup victory

Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Bundle Award dives and wins for first group win

In a stirring battle down the Sha Tin straight, in a rare 2400-metre race in Hong Kong, it was 4-year-old gelding Bundle Award (Shamus Award) who got his nose in front to collect the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup for trainer John Size and jockey Zac Purton, who had to deal with a bash to his injured foot in the gates. Noisy Boy (Real Steel {Jpn}) was brave in defeat, while Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich {Ire}) filled the minor placings.

The G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup over the same distance on May 31 at Sha Tin is a potential target for Bundle Award. “We’ll see how he is. He’s not rated up to that (Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup) at the moment, but let’s have a look and see what’s available for him,” Size told hkjc.com.

“He’s been really good for us and he’s performed admirably today. It was a big job for him to do that to go to another distance and still win. It was hard to predict how they would run the race, but it probably was always going to be a slow-run affair but, a long way from home, he looked like he might be able to win the race. It was just a matter of whether he was in the frame of mind to go on with it.

“He’s physically fine, I think he’s just got to learn to a little bit more about racing and a little bit more about how to win a race.”

Bundle Award began awkwardly, knocking Purton’s foot against the barrier. Purton didn’t panic, relaxing Bundle Award at the back of the field as he adjusted his stirrup, then came wide to flash home.

“He came out sideways and banged the gate and it’s my sore foot, too, so it’s in a bit of pain,” Purton said, referring to the toe he broke in a fall in February.

“They went really slow, which was always going to play into my hands because he’s got the best turn of foot of any horse in the race. It became a sprint home. He had it won a fair way out but he just didn’t know how to put them away. He’s learning but he did a good job.”

Bundle Award, who won three of his first four starts in Australia when named Prince Prawn, took his record to six wins from 12 starts and it was his first victory in a black type race. He became stakes winner number 28 for Shamus Award.

Initially sold by Alva Stud at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale for $110,000, where he was the fourth top lot in 2022, Bundle Award was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA). Bundle Award is the fourth winner for winning mare Ecosse (West Quest {Can}) who is a full sister to Listed Bow Mistress Trophy-placed Aprilia.

Purton and Size also combined to win with quirky gelding Crossborderpegasus (Rich Enuff) who hung the whole way. “He’s just a really difficult horse to ride. He’s got bad habits and it’s very hard to keep him straight, and it might be better for him at 1400 metres,” Purton said of the horse who has won three of his four starts.

Cruz makes it a magical 2500

Tony Cruz added to the history books on Sunday, winning the final two races on the card with Liveandletlive (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) and 3-year-old gelding Winning Ovation (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}). Winner of 946 races as a jockey, the two victories made it 1554 winners as a trainer – for a total of 2500 wins in Hong Kong. “I’m very happy with that. It’s great,” Cruz told scmp.com.

“I must give credit to Angus (Chung) on Liveandletlive – he rode a perfect race.” And it was the same story for Winning Ovation. “The jockey, Alexis Badel, rode a perfect race. The barrier draw was a benefit – if we didn’t have that, we might not have won the race.”

Liveandletlive won twice in England and Sunday’s win was his first in Hong Kong from seven starts in the region. Winning Ovation is another who raced in Europe first, when named Nascimento, winning as a 2-year-old at Salisbury. He also ran mid-field in the G2 Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes prior to that win. Sunday’s win was his second run in Hong Kong, so he has two wins from five starts.

Hong Lok Golf set for black type targets

Trainer Chris So will look at the G3 Lion Rock Trophy over a mile on May 31 for 4-year-old gelding Hong Lok Golf (Grunt {NZ}) after he won on Sunday to take his record to five wins and a second from six starts. “In the straight when I saw (Pray For Mir), I thought he would beat us. But I spoke to Harry (Bentley) and he just said that he wasn’t that worried,” So told scmp.com. Pray For Mir (Justify {USA}) was second, which was his fourth placing in his last five starts.

“The last 100 metres, he did it easy. I was just a bit worried because he was stepping up from 1400 metres to 1600 metres and for some horses it’s a big challenge. We now have the choice whether to give him a break or another run. There’s Group races coming at the end of May, but we will decide.”

Hong Lok Golf was sold by Yulong at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $60,000 to John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA), and the consistent winner-getter now has earnings over HK$5.5 million (AU$1.1 million). Grunt (NZ) has had just the three winners in Hong Kong so far, and Hong Lok Golf is the third foal and second winner for unraced Sky Island (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who has 2-year-old and 3-year-old fillies by Alabama Express, and a yearling colt by Lucky Vega (Ire). Sky Island is a half-sister to dual G2 Royal Ascot Hardwicke Stakes winner Maraahel (Ire) (Alzao {USA}).

Eustace has an exciting Classic prospect

Trainer David Eustace will focus on next season’s Classic series with exciting 3-year-old gelding Dazzling Fit (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}) after he won on Sunday. “We’ve always liked him. He’d put in two really good performances but was showing signs of greenness and just inexperience, which is very normal,” Eustace told scmp.com.

“He was good today. He jumped well and he relaxed. He had a bit of ground to make up and I thought he flattened out well and picked them up well. He’ll be a lovely horse for next season. He’ll definitely stay a mile. Whether he needs to do that now I’m not sure, but for next year he will. We’ll see how he is as to whether he has another run or whether we give him a chance to mature. I’ll just be guided by the horse.”

Dazzling Fit won a trial in New Zealand in September 2024, before heading to Hong Kong where he’s had three starts. Sunday was his first win, although he ran second at his last start. Sold by Haunui Farm at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$115,000, Dazzling Fit was purchased by Tartan Meadows Bloodstock who sold him privately to Hong Kong after his trial win.

Dazzling Fit is the fifth winner for Sapphire Lass (Charge Forward) who has a yearling full brother to him and a colt foal by Shocking. A half-sister to G3 Hawkesbury Crown-placed Pippali (Ilovethiscity), Sapphire Lass is out of stakes placed Polaway (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), a daughter of G1 Golden Slipper winner Polar Success (Success Express {USA}) who also produced Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic winner Lillemore (Hallowed Crown) and stakes placed Lockroy (More Than Ready {USA}). Also from this family is $1 million earner and Group 2 winner Roots (Press Statement).

Whip rules under review

The Hong Kong Jockey Club will consult with jockeys this week over the whip rules. “We continue to look at various aspects of regulation and one of them is the use of the whip. We’ve been doing that for some time and having ongoing discussions with jockeys and trainers,” Executive director of racing Andrew Harding told scmp.com.

“After we have spoken to the jockeys and trainers and owners, we will make an assessment about whether there should be changes to the rules with a view to, if we change anything, introducing it next season.

“We’re not suggesting anything at this stage. Obviously there have been changes to the way the use of the whip has been regulated in other major racing jurisdictions over time. We continue to monitor those changes, see how they’ve worked and we’ll continue to do that.

“It is a conversation we’ll be having with the jockeys – whether there is a case for making the changes here, and if we did make changes, what would be sensible? I would say overall, I think that there is probably a case for reducing, in some circumstances, the use of the whip.”