By Alan Carasso
Trainer John Size is best characterized as conservative and conventional, but Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) has the eight-time champion trainer thinking a bit more outside the box following a comprehensive success in Sunday's G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy H. up the 1000m straight at Sha Tin.
Ultra determined in defeating former G1 Al Quoz Sprint hero Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the G3 National Day Cup H. Oct. 1, Amazing Kids was a slow-starting second to top-class Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. Oct. 23. Free of excuses when fifth to Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 20, he may have been hampered by a slow early tempo and hit some traffic last time in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 11, but ran on well to be fourth, beaten just over a length by Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}).
Drawn furthest from the stands in gate one, Amazing Kids was immediately out the back of the field with Not Listenin'tome behind as Amber Sky blazed a trail from Adventurer (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}). Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) got the box seat just inside of favored lightweight Bad Boy (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}). Moreira took aggressive action with about 450m to race, yanking Amazing Kids out into the clear, and by the time they hit the furlong marker, the gelding had descended on the pacesetters and cruised home to win eased down. Last year's winner Not Listenin'tome took a couple of bumps at the start from Bad Boy, but rallied strongly under his impost to be second ahead of Peniaphobia. A trip to the desert looms for the top two, albeit with a bit of a twist.
“I spoke to the owner last week and, provided he's fit and well, we will look at the [G1] Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai,” said Size, who has never had a runner on Dubai World Cup night. “They've extended it from 1000m to 1200m and it would be a good race for him, I think. He's shown that he can accelerate well down the straight and nothing really fazes him so he would be the right type of horse to travel.”
Not Listenin'tome was the talking horse of last year's Al Quoz, but turned in a subpar effort, and he could find himself trying a little something new this time around.
“We want to go back to Dubai, but now we're thinking the Golden Shaheen on the dirt might be the race, not the Al Quoz,” said trainer John Moore. “I really think he's a good all-weather track horse here, he's trialled so well on it, and he's got gate speed too. He was knocked down at the start today, which meant that he ended up back last, so for him to make up the ground he did was good. I think the dirt race will suit.”
Moore added that Bad Boy, a distant fifth, pulled up with “significant blood” in his trachea.
The winner, runner-up and, in all likelihood, Peniaphobia, will head towards the G2 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) Jan. 30. Amazing Kids has a yearling half-brother by 2012 Hong Kong Classic Mile winner Sweet Orange (War Front–Good Vibes, by Unbridled's Song).
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BAUHINIA SPRINT TROPHY H.-G3, HK$3,000,000 (£311,374/€364,860/A$526,984/US$386,877), Sha Tin, 1-8, 3yo/up, 1000mT, :55.90, gd/fm.
1–AMAZING KIDS (NZ), 132, g, 5, by Falkirk (NZ)
1st Dam: Cadence (NZ), by Rhythm
2nd Dam: Most Illustrious (NZ), by Bletchingly (Aus)
3rd Dam: Lorne (Aus), by Minor Portion (GB)
O-Ricky Tsoi Kee Kwong; B-Colyton Road Holdings Ltd; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$1,710,000. Lifetime Record: 19-7-6-2, HK$12,608,070. *Formerly Cousin Colin (NZ). Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
2–Not Listenin'tome (Aus), 132, g, 6, Dylan Thomas (Ire)–Flame of Sydney (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). (A$270,000 Ylg '12 INGEAS). O-Matthew Wong Leung Pak; B-M A Pitt & M Read (NSW); T-John Moore; HK$660,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Peniaphobia (Ire), 133, g, 6, Dandy Man (Ire)–Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion. (€11,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 Ylg '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen; B-Aidan Fogarty; T-Tony Cruz; HK$345,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 4.80, 4.20, 4.50.
Also Ran: Amber Sky (Aus), Bad Boy (Aus), Adventurer (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart and VIDEO. HKJC.com PPs. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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