Little Giant (NZ) Too Sharp in Sha Tin Vase

A horse who could have been bought for $55,000 as a yearling at Karaka produced a high-class sprinting display to win Sunday’s HK$3.25 million Group 3 Sha Tin Vase (1200m) in Hong Kong.

Carrying a testing weight of 60 kilograms, Little Giant (NZ) (Swiss Ace) settled in sixth place among a nine-horse field before exploding into contention in the home straight. He took the lead inside the last 200 metres and went to the finish line three-quarters of a length in front, clocking 1:08.82 for the 1200 metres.

Little Giant has now had 12 starts for six wins and three placings, including a third in the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m). Little Giant has now earned more than HK$8.3 million in prize-money for owners the Wizard Syndicate. That is the equivalent of NZ$1.62 million, which is more than 29 times his reserve at the 2014 Select Sale.

Little Giant began his career in New Zealand with Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta. Racing under the name Blackcrown, he made two appearances and won impressively on both occasions.

David Hall, who took over the training of Little Giant in Hong Kong, will now aim him at the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December – a race in which he finished fourth last year.

“I was pretty relieved that he could get the job done today,” he said. “It was a testing sort of a race with the big weight, but he’s put up two terrific performances at Group 1 level – a third and a fourth. To be able to get that win, it’s great to see.

“He’ll just go through the traditional path leading into December now, he’ll have a rest and hopefully we can be there in the Group 1 sprint in December.

“When he’s only had as many starts as he’s had and to get where he got to, you’re still hopeful there might be a little bit more there.

“He was beaten by less than two lengths in December and by three-quarters of a length the other day (in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize).”