Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), last year's champion griffin horse, was sent off the hot 1-2 favorite in Wednesday's Chinese New Year Cup to atone for disappointing fifth-place effort as the chalk in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and came through the effort with flying colors. Hustled along early by Joao Moreira to take up a forward position from gate three, the regally bred bay stalked the leading group of horses on the turn and was pulled out into the clear exiting the home corner. He was roused to the lead while lugging in a bit with a furlong to race, but nevertheless covered his final 400m in a race-fastest :22.28 to score by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths (video). “He was coming back in distance so I didn't expect him to be up there against these fast horses but the way the race was paced was perfect for him,” said Moreira, who registered four wins on the day, one better than fellow Brazilian Silvestre de Sousa. “They didn't go too hard, they gave him some very nice cover–obviously the good gate helped him be well-placed–then he got out and when I gave him a kick he really accelerated. He was hanging a little bit and I had to fight him a little bit to stop him going inwards, but then he showed up and showed that he really has top gears. There's more to come from him.” Four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup is the dam of a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock (Aus) and a weanling filly by Redoute's Choice's top sire son Snitzel (Aus). The winner could make his next start in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over course and distance Feb. 28.
Thewizardofoz (Aus), g, 4, Redoute's Choice (Aus)–Princess Coup (Aus) (Ch. 3yo Filly, Older Mare & Stayer-NZ, MG1SW-NZ, GSW & MG1SP-Aus, $3,120,554), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). Sha Tin, 2-10, Hcp. (A$435k), 1400mT, 1:21.20. B-Evergreen Rich Pty Ltd.
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