Stunning, Indeed

As HKJC commentator John Blance referenced during Sunday's live broadcast, Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) showed his potential as far back as his first barrier trial and he's done nothing but go from strength to strength since. In the space of 14 starts over the course of 20 months, the gelding had become one of the jurisdictions leading short-trackers, having narrowly missed out on Group 1 glory when just touched off by Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in last year's Chairman's Sprint Prize. That top-level success may not be far away following his barnstorming score in Sunday's G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint, the final lead-up for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint.

As versatile as he his talented, Mr Stunning was one of the first into stride from gate 10, but Nash Rawiller was left with no choice but to drift back through the field as one-time Sprint winner Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and defending JC Sprint winner Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) were ding-donging it up front. About fourth-last for the run into the turn, Mr Stunning was three wide on the back of longshot Bad Boy (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}), but with chief market rivals Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Lucky Bubbles behind, Rawiller edged into the four path, ensuring a clear run into the lane. Mr Stunning took it from there, ambling up to the pacesetters, then turning on the afterburners in the final 150m to score with a fair bit of authority. Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) and the progressive D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) completed a 1-2-3 sweep for trainer John Size. Conversely, Lucky Bubbles endured a torrid run. Checked on the turn, he was stopped again in upper stretch and was never able to extend, finishing second-last as the 7-5 chalk.

“He's an absolute star, he's so push-button,” Rawiller told HKJC's Andrew Hawkins. “Today, he jumped first out of the gates and I dropped my hands on his neck and he just came straight back under me. He was a dream to ride throughout the run. Even when the pace slowed up dramatically, it probably put the whole race out of whack, but he's nimble on his feet and he was able to capitalise on that. I was able to roll forward into the race and he put it beyond doubt at the 300m, he was travelling very comfortably and it was just a matter of letting him go to win the race.”

Pedigree Notes:

Mr Stunning is out of a daughter of US MGISW Fran's Valentine (Saros {GB}), also runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and later the dam of the popular gray galloper, the MGISW With Anticipation (Relaunch), himself runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Fran's Valentine was also responsible for French GSW & MG1SP With Fascination (Dayjur). With Fervour's last listed produce is the now 3-year-old Mossman (Aus) filly With Faith (Aus).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,000,000 (£388,612/€435,413/A$674,688/US$512,232), Sha Tin, 11-19, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:09.33, gd.
1–MR STUNNING (AUS), 123, g, 5, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: With Fervour, by Dayjur
2nd Dam: Fran's Valentine, by Saros (GB)
3rd Dam: Iza Valentine, by Bicker
(A$110,000 Wlg '13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg '14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-John Size; J-Nash Rawiller; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-HK, 15-9-2-1, HK$16,478,600. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Amazing Kids (NZ), 123, g, 6, Falkirk (NZ)–Cadence (NZ), by Rhythm. O-Ricky Tsoi; B-Colyton Road Holdings Ltd; T-John Size; HK$880,000.
3–D B Pin (NZ), 123, g, 5, Darci Brahma (NZ)–Pins 'N' Needles (NZ), by Pins (Aus). (NZ$200,000 Ylg '14 NZBPRE). O-Samuel Wong; B-Mrs K N & W E Calder; T-John Size; HK$460,000.
Margins: 1HF, NO, 1HF. Odds: 11-5, 11-1, 23-1.
Also Ran: Peniaphobia (Ire), Thewizardofoz (Aus), Lucky Year (Aus), Not Listenin'tome (Aus), Dashing Fellow (Aus), Lucky Bubbles (Aus), Bad Boy (Aus). Scratched: Southern Legend (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.