Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Tomodachi Kokoroe headed to G1 Hong Kong Sprint
Despite a wide draw and a weight disadvantage, David Hayes-trained 7-year-old gelding Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon) stayed unbeaten for the season with his second win in succession. “It’s not bad when they carry the grandstand and go via the Cape. That was a very good win and he’ll go into the lead-up races to the Hong Kong Sprint,” Hayes told hkjc.com.
He was ridden by Harry Bentley who said, “It was a great performance. He (Tomodachi Kokoroe) had to raise his game, obviously, with the 10-pound hike. But credit to the horse, he really dug deep and stuck his head out in that last 100 metres. Great training performance and the horse is trying extremely hard.”
Tomodachi Kokoroe will head to the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap on October 26 then the G2 Jockey Club Sprint on November 23 ahead of December’s international meeting. Placed at three in Bendigo, when named Bank Bank Bank, Tomodachi Kokoroe was sold via Inglis Digital and transferred to Northern Queensland where he won six in succession as a late 3-year-old and early 4-year-old. Exported to Hong Kong, he took a year before he won again, but now has 12 wins from 42 starts and earnings of AU$84,150 and HK$13,051,920 (AU$2.6 million).
One of four winners for unplaced Fastnet Rock mare Rainbeam, Tomodachi Kokoroe is from the family of Hong Kong’s six-time stakes winner Scintillation (Danehill {USA}). Originally sold by Glastonbury Farm for $175,000 to UHC at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Tomodachi Kokoroe went through an Inglis Digital Sale in March 2022 when R Ludwig purchased him for $25,000.
Five for Cruz this week
Trainer Tony Cruz enjoyed a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday then added a double at Sha Tin on Sunday to make it five wins for the week, and nine for the season. His Sunday double was with He Was You (Rich Enuff) and Good Luck Babe (Delago Deluxe), both ridden by Angus Chung.
“I’m always very happy when I have winners. I did expect the last race as well but it didn’t happen, which is a bit disappointing, but I have to be happy with two winners,” Cruz told scmp.com.
“He Was You ran a great race, I’m very happy with him and the attitude he showed today. I always thought Good Luck Babe would win. I think he’s only a 1200-metre or 1400-metre horse – he won at 1600 metres for David Eustace but for my stable, I don’t think he can get that distance.”
Good Luck Babe was a winner at Hawkesbury, when named I Am Breathing, before heading to Hong Kong where he was two wins from 16 starts. Sold by Washpool Lodge at a Magic Millions Online Sale in 2022 as a yearling for $700, Good Luck Babe was put through the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale later that same year by Kenmore Lodge where he realised $32,000 to the bid of Aaron Lau. He has earnings over $400,000 in both Australia and Hong Kong combined.
Double for Fownes to keep trainers’ battle tight
Caspar Fownes also had a double at Sha Tin to take him to nine for the season, leaving Cruz, Fownes and David Hayes all in equal second place on the Trainers’ Premiership with nine wins apiece. Mark Newnham remains on top of the Trainers’ Premiership with 11 wins for the season.
Fownes won with Daily Trophy (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) and Sky Heart (NZ) (Ardrossan). “I’m very happy for today and I really appreciate that the trainers give me support – I’m so happy to win the last on Sky Heart for my boss,” jockey Ellis Wong told scmp.com.
Pundits will be interested to know that Sky Heart is the second winner in Hong Kong out of a Per Incanto (USA) mare after Horse Of the Year Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) whose dam is Missy Moo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). It’s early days for Per Incanto as a damsire, with only five runners in Hong Kong. Per Incanto as a damsire has seven stakes winners globally.
One of those stakes winners is Sky Heart’s full brother 4-year-old gelding Yaldi (NZ) who won last season’s G2 Auckland Guineas.
Six weeks into the new season in Hong Kong, and Deep Field leads the Sires’ Premiership with six individual winners of seven races and progeny earnings over HK$7 million (AU$1.3 million).
