Bobo So Cute (NZ) Takes the Lisboa Challenge

6 July 2015

Karaka graduate Bobo So Cute (NZ) (Savabeel) earned his first stakes victory in the M$550,000 Listed Lisboa Challenge (1400m) in Macau on Saturday.

Bobo So Cute. 04.07.15 MJC.

Bobo So Cute (NZ) winner of the Listed Lisboa Challenge.
Photo courtesy of the MJC.

From his 11 raceday starts, Bobo So Cute has won on seven occasions for trainer M C Tam. Runner-up in the Listed Macau Guineas earlier in the year, his last start saw him run fourth in the Listed Macau Directors’ Cup.

Commencing the race from the widest barrier, kiwi jockey Andrew Calder rode Bobo So Cute forward, crossing the track to settle one off the rail behind the leader River Bobo (NZ) (Elusive City). Travelling in fourth position, Bobo So Cute found a spot on the rail with 900m to run, alongside Not A Single Help (Not A Single Doubt).

Racing to the lead in the home straight was Achilles Sword (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous) but was challenged by Bobo So Cute who ranged up in the final 200m for a one-length victory over Achilles Sword and Not A Single Help in third.

The three-year-old gelding has earned M$1,535,000 in prizemoney for his owner Ms Chan Sui Wah.

Purchased as a weanling by Mr WH Shum at the 2012 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale for NZ$40,000 from Willowbank Stud, he was also offered by Phoenix Park at both the 2013 Karaka Select Sale and the 2013 Karaka Ready to Run Sale.

Bred by Mrs C L McLachlan, the son of Savabeel is out of the winning Shinko King mare Celebes Sea, who is a half-sister to the dam of dual Group 1 winner Booming (Don Eduardo).

Willowbank Stud celebrated a double at Saturday’s Macau race meeting with the Karaka graduate Danpaoshaq (NZ) (Danasinga) winning the race following Bobo So Cute. Willowbank Stud offered the Danasinga gelding at the 2007 Karaka Ready to Run Sale where he was purchased by NZB as agent for NZ$130,000.

Danpaoshaq was originally purchased as a weanling at the 2006 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale by NZB as agent for NZ$18,000 from Belvedere Farm.