Sophomores Shine at Sha Tin

A trio of sophomores–each on the rise, each with different near- and longer-term objectives and each ridden by Zac Purton–claimed their share of the limelight on Saturday's pre-holiday program at Sha Tin.

Sent off the 21-10 joint second favorite in the Griffin Trophy (1400m), Win Beauty Win (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) sat handy to a modest pace and accelerated away in the final furlong to post a three-length victory (video) for trainer Paul O'Sullivan in the HK$2-million event, restricted to 3-year-olds from both hemispheres. The NZ$75,000 NZB Select Yearling Sale graduate was winning for the second time in four career starts.

“The race is not open to all horses so you never know quite how good your opposition is,” the Kiwi trainer told the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Andrew Hawkins. “These could be horses that are bound for Class 3 and no higher. I think though you saw the best three horses race clear there, I reckon if you look in two years the form will stand up. Maybe he could be a Derby prospect for 2019. He's got the pedigree to go beyond a mile, though, Makfi has produced some staying types.”

One of the most exciting horses currently in training in Hong Kong is Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), undefeated in four starts prior to his Class 2 debut Saturday up the 1000m straight. Quickly into stride from his wide barrier, the A$90,000 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling acquisition argued the pace from between rivals, opened a bit of daylight with a furlong and a half to travel and went on to score by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths as the 1-4 chalk (video).

“It's Class 2, you just can't put them away as easy,” winning trainer John Size said. “It's a different grade and he's a living example of what happens. You just can't look so good when you go up to Class 2, they can all gallop and it's that simple.”

Size, who originally planned to stop on Hot King Prawn after his Dec. 3 victory, said the horse is now set for a break with an eye on the tail end of the racing calendar.

Entering the 2017-2018 season, 'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) was set to fly the flag for the Tony Cruz stable in the jurisdiction's major middle-distance events. Though that one remains sidelined owing to rogue behaviour, the yard's Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) filled in admirably with a pillar-to-post tally in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup Dec. 10 and in the form of Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Cruz is likely to have one of the favourites for the BMW Hong Kong Derby come March. The former Irishcorrespondent (Ire), third to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in this year's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, was keen in the run, but overcame a wide trip to make light work of a Class 2 over the Derby's 2000-metre distance en route to a 2 3/4-length success (video) as a $1.80 (4-5) pop.

“You don't often see horses pull that hard and still win the way he did,” Purton said. “It bodes very well for the future if he can sort himself out. He's obviously got an engine, but he's still six to 12 months away from being a proper horse. He needs to chill, relax and help himself out.”

According to owner Eddie Wong, Exultant will pass on the Hong Kong Classic Mile Jan. 21 in favour of the Feb. 18 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) en route to the Mar. 18 Derby, the most valuable non-graded race on the domestic racing calendar at HK$18 million.

With the three-timer, Purton continued to chip away at the suspended Joao Moreira's slender lead in the jockeys' premiership and relishes the opportunity to guide these young gallopers.

“It's always encouraging when the new brigade comes along,” Purton said. “The future is bright after seeing some of these horses today.”