Simply Brilliant (GB) (Frankel {GB}), known in Britain as Senator (GB), became the first winner in Hong Kong for his Juddmonte sire on Sunday (Video). This is the 12th country to have a winner by Frankel. Victorious in his first two starts for trainer Richard Fahey and Cheveley Park Stud in 2016 at Leicester in July and at Carlisle a month later, the chestnut did not find the winner's circle again in his native land in three more appearances, including a sixth going a mile in the Britannia S. at Royal Ascot on June 22.
Purchased by the Simply Brilliant Syndicate and send to the barn of Frankie Lor in Hong Kong, he has yet to be out of the first three in four starts prior to Sunday. Exactly five months to the day, Simply Brilliant stepped out at Happy Valley for a 1200-metre handicap, but couldn't quite seal the deal when favoured and settled for second behind Super Fluke (NZ) (Thewayyouare). The April foal completed the exacta twice more in succession, first in the Able Friend H. at Sha Tin on Dec. 10 in the wake of 87-rated Key Witness (Aus) (Show A Heart {Aus}) and, as a newly turned 4-year-old, found only 94-rated Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}) too good in the Orchid H. on Jan. 7. Trying 1400 metres on Jan. 21, Simply Brilliant tired late to third after sitting second through the middle stages.
Favoured on Sunday's Chinese New Year card, the 4-year-old jumped from stall six and tugged his way up to sit midfield through three furlongs in :34.79. Zac Purton was sitting on a ton of horse on the bend, and asked the gelding once a clear route appeared 400 metres from home. Simply Brilliant let down powerfully inside the final 200 metres and drew off to win by 1 1/2 lengths, over the hard-charging Sacred Ibis (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), who swooped down the middle of the course late.
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