Aethero Steals the Show at HKIR Trials

The ongoing social uprising in Hong Kong meant that just over 11,000 people made their way to Sha Tin Racecourse for Sunday's Jockey Club meeting, featuring the three final lead-up races to the Longines Hong Kong International Races in three weeks. While two-time reigning Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) suffered a second consecutive defeat–this one considerably more shocking than the last–at the hooves of Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile, any disappointment was more than made up for by a breakthrough victory from boom 3-year-old Aethero (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), who cemented his status as Hong Kong's next great thing with a stunning two-length defeat of defending champion Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) and multiple Group 1 winner Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint. In the afternoon's third feature, Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) prepped for a title defence in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) with a dominant score in the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Drawn gate nine, the once-beaten Aethero–getting 10 pounds from most of his rivals and 15 from the top-weights–hit the ground running under a hustling Karis Teetan ride and dared them to catch him. They quite simply could not. The gelding, a Sept. 20 foal, had daylight on the John Size-trained duo, each of whom was having their first runs in this season. After breaking champion Sacred Kingdom (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus})'s track record up the 1000-metre straight course last time, Aethero came within 0.08 seconds of eclipsing that one's 1200-meter mark Sunday.

“It was impressive and just outside the track record but he was carrying a postage stamp,” winning trainer John Moore acknowledged. “Hot King Prawn carried 10 pounds more than us and still closed off with no previous run this season. But, saying that, his run was great. He's still only a 3-year-old and he did everything right: he jumped away from the blocks and got across to the lead..and he did it under his own steam.”

Aethero, who weighed in at 1246 pounds Sunday, will carry 117 pounds and will be in receipt of nine pounds from his male rivals in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. South China Morning Post reported that Zac Purton, who usually rides 119, intends to make the weight on international day.

'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) was back to his old antics, pulling himself up after 100m and casting doubt on his Hong Kong future. Pingwu Spark (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), known for his stubbornness at the stalls, was scratched after refusing to load and could be forced into retiremente

Beauty Generation Rolled Again…

Punters were happy to forgive Beauty Generation for his last-out defeat in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy H. Oct. 20, where he had to concede loads of weight in a race that was not run to suit. Sent off the $1.30 (3-10) chalk Sunday, he was ridden for speed and set a strong pace well out into the track early on as Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) was relegated to a stalking second this time. Zac Purton took the two-time G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero back down to the fence at the 800m, but after clocking :46.20 from the 1200m to the 400m, he found little in the stretch, allowing perfect-trip Waikuku, in receipt of five pounds from the favourite, to sneak through underneath him at the rail before going on to post a 3/4-length upset. Perhaps even more worrisome, Ka Ying Star outfinished Beauty Generation for second and Simply Brilliant (GB) (Frankel {GB}) nearly got up for third.

“When we were turning for home, Ka Ying Star wasn't giving ground, he was holding me in there and I was forced to hold and hope the gap would come inside the leader, Beauty Generation,” winning jockey Joao Moreira said. “Once it came, my horse was full-on: he just went for it and didn't hesitate to go through. Good horses do it, they go through small gaps, and he has proven himself.”

Of the beaten choice, trainer John Moore said: “He stayed off the fence in the back straight and then came back in and Zac (Purton) said he felt comfortable, he was happy with how he got there: he thought on the corner he would let down and really kick hard but he didn't.”

Exultant a Flawless Winner of the Cup…

Punted into odds-on favourtism on the heels of a comebacking third to Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse H. a fortnight back, Exultant showed the requisite improvement to post a convincing 1 1/4-length success over 2019 Hong Kong Derby winner Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) in the Jockey Club Cup.

Settled in fourth and by his lonesome as G1 Hong Kong Cup-winning brothers Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) and Glorious Forever (GB) once again went far too hard up front, Exultant was pulled out into the clear nearing the entry to the far turn and was forced to kick fully 700m out when Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}) rolled up four wide. Calling on his superior staying ability, he repelled a mild bid from Furore at the furlong marker to score cosily in the finish. Southern Legend was held up for a run at the 200m and kicked home nicely for third.

“He ran well first-up, so there were no concerns for me about him getting back to his best, he just had to get to a distance that was suitable,” said Purton, while cautioning, “I just hope this hasn't been a gut buster prior to his grand final.” Trainer Tony Cruz confirmed the Vase is the next destination, side-stepping the Cup and a potential clash with Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£421,645/€492,747/
A$800,610/US$542,882), Sha Tin, 11-17, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:07.58, gd.
1–AETHERO (AUS), 113, g, 3, by Sebring (Aus)
1st Dam: Pinocchio (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus)
2nd Dam: Surrealist (Aus), by Kenny's Best Pal (Aus)
3rd Dam: Sunset Beach (Aus), by Kenmare (Fr)
1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (A$575,000 Ylg '18 INGEAS). O-Andrea Tien & Arthur Cheng; B-Wallings Bloodstock Pty Ltd (NSW); T-John Moore; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, HK$6,616,600. *1/2 to Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), GSW-Aus, $1,001,402. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hot King Prawn (Aus), 123, g, 5, Denman (Aus)–De Chorus (Aus), by Unbridled's Song. (A$90,000 Ylg '16 INGFEB). O-Lau Sak Hong; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-John Size; J-Grant van Niekerk; HK$935,000.
3–Beat the Clock (Aus), 128, g, 6, Hinchinbrook (Aus)–Flion Fenena (Aus), by Lion Hunter (Aus). (A$70,000 Ylg '15 INGMAR; NZ$200,000 2yo '15 NZBRTR). O-Merrick Chung Wai Lik; B-Miss J Henderson (NSW); T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$488,750.
Margins: 2, 1, 3/4. Odds: 9-5, 10-1, 87-10.
Also Ran: Full of Beauty (Aus), Wishful Thinker (Aus), D B Pin (NZ), Ivictory (Aus), Mr Stunning (Aus), Thanks Forever (Aus), Regency Legend (NZ), Little Giant (NZ), Premiere (NZ), Pakistan Star (Ger). Scratched: Pingwu Spark (NZ).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
A half-brother to the Hong Kong-bound Group 2 winner Classique Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), Aethero is out of a half-sister to champion Purrealist (Aus) (Tale of the Cat) and the stakes-placed Distilled (Aus) (Masterclass). Aethero is the 56th black-type winner and 34th group winner for Sebring, who succumbed to a heart attack at Widden Stud this past February. Pinocchio is the dam of a yearling colt by So You Think (NZ).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
JOCKEY CLUB MILE-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£421,645/€492,747/
A$800,610/US$542,882), Sha Tin, 11-17, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:32.89, gd.
1–WAIKUKU (IRE), 123, g, 4, by Harbour Watch (Ire)
1st Dam: London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Aunt Julia (GB), by In the Wings (GB)
3rd Dam: Original (GB), by Caerleon
1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. (€33,000 Ylg '16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Shane Molan; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: 13-6-3-1, HK$13,044,680. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ka Ying Star (GB), 123, g, 4, Cityscape (GB)–Casual Glance (GB), by Sinndar (Ire). O-Leung Shek Kong; B-Kingsclere Stud; T-Tony Cruz; HK$935,000.
3–Beauty Generation (NZ), 128, g, 7, Road to Rock (Aus)–Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus). (NZ$60,000 Ylg '14 NZBJAN). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; HK$488,750.
Margins: 3/4, 1, NK. Odds: 33-10, 37-5, 3-10.
Also Ran: Simply Brilliant (GB), Citron Spirit (Ire), Not Usual Talent (NZ), Elusive State (Aus).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
The seventh stakes winner and second group winner for Harbour Watch, Waikuku is a half-brother to the Clive Cox-trained It's Good to Laugh (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), a maiden winner at second asking in August and a latest runner-up in Newmarket handicap company Nov. 2. Waikuku's dam, a full-sister to multiple group-placed Al Waab (Ire), produced a filly by dual Hong Kong Vase winner Highland Reel (Ire) this past Mar. 9.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$4,250,000 (£421,645/€492,747/
A$800,610/US$542,882), Sha Tin, 11-17, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 1:59.77, gd.
1–EXULTANT (IRE), 128, g, 5, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crystal Gaze (Ire), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Jumilla, by El Gran Senor
O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud Limited; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,422,500. Lifetime Record: Ch. Stayer & MG1SW-HK, G1SP-Ire, 24-10-6-3, HK$47,786,910. *Formerly Irishcorrespondent (Ire). Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Furore (NZ), 123, g, 5, Pierro (Aus)-Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). (NZ$210,000 Ylg '16 NZBJAN). O-Lee Sheung Chau; B-GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd; T-Frankie Lor; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$935,000.
3–Southern Legend (Aus), 123, g, 7, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna's Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg '14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Alberto Sanna; HK$488,750.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 9-10, 15-1, 11-1.
Also Ran: Rise High (Fr), Ho Ho Khan (NZ), Eagle Way (Aus), Time Warp (GB), Dark Dream (Aus), Glorious Forever (GB).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Exultant, third to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the 2017 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, is out of a half-sister to Group 2 winner Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and Italian highweight and GSW/G1SP Spirit Quartz (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). His dam foaled a filly by Churchill this past St Patrick's Day.