Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
G2 Premier Bowl won by Raging Blizzard
John Size-trained Raging Blizzard (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was given a great ride by Brenton Avdulla who hopes the win will help his chances in getting a contract extension for Hong Kong.
“There are two horses that, every season, they keep turning up for me. They don’t win very often but him and Beauty Joy, they just turn up every season and run against the best and I said to connections, ‘I think it’s his turn today’,” Avdulla told scmp.com.
“For a jockey in Hong Kong, you’ve got Zac (Purton) and Hughie (Bowman). They get the best rides and the best horses in those big races, but if you can have a ride in the good races, all the way through with a Blizzard or a Beauty Joy, they just help you all the time. You’re always in the prizemoney and I’m never far away with him.
“To actually win a race and a Group 2, it’s very special.”
Avdulla rode a double on the card with David Hayes-trained Pocketing (Grunt {NZ}). In the main event, Raging Blizzard chased down David Hall-trained Ka Ying Attack (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) to win by a head with Crimson Flash (Showtime) in third.
“I just thought it was the easiest race he’s been in, and Hally’s horses have been in good form, but today, carrying the 135lb, second up and 1200 metres – I thought today was D-Day for him and we got the right run through and he was able to get the job done.”
“I just thought it was the easiest race he’s (Raging Blizzard) been in... I thought today was D-Day for him and we got the right run through...” - John Size
It was a record-extending fifth Premier Bowl success for Size, who previously won in 2023 with Avdulla-ridden Sight Success (Magnus), in 2018 with Hot King Prawn (Denman), in 2017 with Mr Stunning (Exceed And Excel) and in 2011 with Rich Unicorn (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
“It’s a bit of justice for him – he’s tried so hard in all his races. He’s been unlucky running into some very nice horses constantly, but eventually, he’s rewarded for his consistency. So, it was quite satisfying to see him win this race,” Size said.
“It was probably a special event for a lot of the connections, so we’re quite happy and relieved for the horse to win a race and for the owners, who have been believing in him for such a long time.
“He’s got a lovely temperament, he’s in beautiful condition most of the time, and he’s sound, and he does very well. He’s a pleasure to work with. But just on race day, he just lacks the extra couple of rating points to mix it with the big ones.
“He’s got no options, so he’ll go there, and it’s a stepping stone to the second Sunday in December.” Raging Blizzard will head to the G2 Jockey Club Sprint next before heading to the G1 Hong Kong Sprint at the international meeting in December.
It was the first black-type win for Raging Blizzard who becomes stakes winner number 39 for Per Incanto (USA). Raging Blizzard, who has run into Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) on seven occasions, took his record to seven wins from 30 starts, all in Hong Kong, for earnings over HK$26 million (AU$4.7 million).
Lime Country Thoroughbreds sold him at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to John Foote Bloodstock for $225,000. He is the second foal of Perfect Beat (Magnus) who has produced four winners and has 3-year-old gelding Top Ace (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}), a 2-year-old colt by Tarzino (NZ) and a yearling filly by Ace High to come.
Perfect Beat is a half-sister to Group 2 winners Upbeat (Strategic) and Bella Martini (Stratum) and is a full sister to Listed-winning pair Alpha Beat and Volcanic Ash. Their dam, Silverbeat (Distant Music {USA}), placed in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (f) on debut.
Ng and Fownes grab doubles to stay on top
The Hong Kong Trainers’ Premiership remained tight at the top with doubles from both Pierre Ng and Caspar Fownes. Ng (14 wins) leads Fownes (13) from David Hayes (10), David Eustace (10) and Manfred Man (10).
Nichola Yuen rode a double including Storm Mirror (Deep Field) for Ng, with her other win being on Packing Glory (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) for trainer Ricky Yiu. Yiu also had a double with Chill Easy (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). The apprentice jockey sits on 13 wins for the season, second only to nine-time Hong Kong champion Zac Purton (26) and one ahead of Vincent Ho (12).
Storm Mirror was joined by Smart Fat Cat (Starspangledbanner), ridden by Karis Teetan, to give Ng the brace and keep him on top of the table.
“We were just hoping (Storm Mirror) would jump a bit sharper than last time, which he did today, so he got a very easy and comfortable lead,” Ng said.
“I just told Nichola to let him roll along, breathe properly around the bend and in the straight, just roll him out a bit. He was a little bit shy around the 200-metre mark – he shied away from something – but Nichola managed to change her left-hand whip and brought him back in. He improved from last run and hopefully he can slowly improve more in the future.
“We just hoped to add some more rating points today so we’d have more options for next run.”
Storm Mirror placed twice at three in Hong Kong last season, and ran a shocker when resuming this campaign, but has since won twice in succession. He took his earnings over HK$1.6 million (AU$300,000). He is one of two winners for Egyptian Bullet (Bullet Train {GB}), who won six races and placed in the Listed AR Creswick Series Final.
By contrast, Smart Fat Cat has taken 16 starts to win his maiden but has earned over HK$2 million (AU$362,000) on the way and has had five placings before Sunday’s victory.
“Once (Smart Fat Cat) got to the front he was a bit shy, but luckily there was another horse coming in a little bit to give him some pressure, so he stayed on. I think he’s got a little bit more to learn – he learned to be a bit more relaxed today, but I’m hoping he learns to really drop [the bridle] in the future.”
Originally sold by Rushton Park for $34,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale, he was bought by Valiant Stud, who pinhooked him into the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where Agile Thoroughbreds paid $160,000 for him.
Smart Fat Cat is one of two winners for Sequoia Lady (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), who won her maiden at Pakenham.
Megastar Heart does it again
Caspar Fownes double came with Tycoon Express (Written Tycoon) for jockey Ellis Wong and Megastar Heart (Star Turn) for jockey Luke Ferraris. Megastar Heart set a class record for the 1200 metres at 1:07.75s and made it two wins in succession.
“Like I said the last time he won, he’s been one of the toughest horses I’ve had to train through my career, so for us we get quite emotional and it’s fulfilling to get these types of horses to perform,” Fownes said.
“I’m confident he’s going to get to triple figures but he could be even better than that going forward, if he stays sound. He’s won it pretty soft, he’s run good time and he’s just going to keep improving.
“I’m confident he’s going to get to triple figures but he could be even better than that going forward, if he stays sound.” - Caspar Fownes
“His next race will be on the 14th of November in the Panasonic Cup. If things stay the way they are, he’s going to be a live chance in Class Two, which is awesome.”
Megastar Heart, who topped the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, then won a Listed race at two, won his last start a fortnight ago to show he’d recovered from a long injury break.
Originally sold by Fairview Park Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $120,000 to Solari Bloodstock, he went through KP Bloodstock’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft where Pato Leung and Solari Bloodstock paid NZ$825,000 for him to top the sale that year.
He is the only winner for Commonwealth (Foxwedge), whose 2-year-old colt Chasing Archer (Hitotsu) ran fifth in the G3 Breeders’ Plate on debut and was again fifth in Saturday’s Kirkham Plate.
Commonwealth is a maiden winner from the family of blue hen mare Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet {USA}), dam of Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock), as well as Group 2 winner Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice) and Listed winner Silently (Anabaa {USA}).
Ka Ying Lightning stays unbeaten
Trainer David Hall celebrated his birthday with the victory of Ka Ying Lightning (NZ) (All Too Hard) who took his record to three from three. He took his earnings over HK$2.3 million (AU$417,000).
“We’ll take all the presents that come. If they’re going to be like that, it’ll be a big birthday, won’t it?” Hall told scmp.com.
“We’ll take all the presents that come. If they’re going to be like that, it’ll be a big birthday, won’t it?” - David Hall
“He did a pretty good job today. I think he got taken on a little bit, which wasn’t ideal. It would have been better for him to have a trail and then he got challenged by a horse that had been trialling really well. So, he knuckled down and fought strongly and he’s still unbeaten.”
He might step up in trip from 1000 metres to 1200 metres now.
“First time in Class Three, I kept him to what he was used to and I think it’s time for him to go around the corner now. His next run will probably be 1200 metres – when that will be, I’ll just see how the horse is. The 1200 metres will be interesting now. As I said, he’s got to go around the bend, he’s got to go a little bit further, but I’m quietly confident that 1200 metres and 1400 metres will be more his game. So, looking forward to it.”
Originally sold by Pencarrow Stud for NZ$120,000 to Matt Vella Bloodstock at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, he went through KB Bloostock’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft where John Foote Bloodstock paid NZ$200,000 for him. Ka Ying Lightning won a trial as a 2-year-old in New Zealand before heading to Hong Kong.
He is one of two winners for Floating Heart (NZ) (Encosta De Lago), whose 3-year-old gelding Quarterback (NZ) (Super Seth) was placed twice at two last season and resumed recently with a third at Rosehill behind Barracks (Home Affairs), who was second in the G3 Blue Sapphire last start.
Twice a winner in New Zealand, Floating Heart has a 2-year-old gelding by Hello Youmzain (Fr) and a yearling filly by Ace High. Floating Heart is a daughter of Group 3 winner Amaryllis (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}).
