Enthused Wins Sprint Trophy

Aquanita Racing's 2005 Karaka Select Sale purchase Enthused provided the highlight at Sha Tin on Sunday night, dashing up the 1000 metre straight to win the feature HK$2.3m Group 3 Sha Tin Sprint Trophy.

Trained by John Size for owners Mr and Mrs Benedict Wong Chung Mat, Enthused (Centaine) has had four wins and eight placings in Hong Kong for trainer John Size. Now squarely amongst the leading sprinters in the country, Enthused is aimed at the Group 2 Hong Kong International Sprint in December. His win bodes well for success at that meeting, following previous Sprint Trophy winners like Sacred Kingdom, Silent Witness and Scintillation.

Size has confirmed two more starts scheduled for Enthused in his lead up to the big sprint, with the Premier Bowl on October 26 and the International Sprint Trial on November23, both over 1200m.

Sold as a yearling by Windsor Park Stud at the Karaka Select Sale for NZ$40,000, the five-year-old is from Free as a Bird (Jugah) who has produced four winners from four to race. Her Ishiguru daughter, a half-sister to Enthused, will be offered at the 2009 National Yearling Sales Series.

Filling the minor placings were Superior Unit and fellow Kiwi, Nightlign (Align x Indian Squaw).

Nightlign won the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) as a juvenile in New Zealand before being sold to Hong Kong where he's had three starts for a win and two third placings to date.

Earlier in the evening at race two, the Class 4 Shing Mun River Channel Handicap (1650m), One Touch (Cape Cross x Showzeel by Zabeel) notched up his third win ahead of fellow New Zealand breds Amazing Choice (Fantastic Light x Rubitoff by Rubiton) and Lucky Money Star (Cape Cross x Real Charmer by Grosvenor).

One Touch was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale from Cambridge Stud for NZ$250,000. He was subsequently sold through the Hong Kong International Sale for HK$4,200,000.

Singapore Turf Club also raced on the night at Kranji with NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Dorado Joy (Jungle Pocket x Ebony Tudor by Grosvenor) overcoming a wide draw to take out race five on the card, the Class 4 over 1600 metres.

Fellow NZ-breds Restored (Red Ransom x Pristine Kristine by Spinning World) and Noble One (Towkay x Cinzano by Lord Ballina) finished second and third.

Trained by Charles Leck, Dorado Joy recently recorded his first success winning on 19 September for his owner, the Angel Stable.  

New Zealand Bloodstock acted as agent at the 2006 sale, to secure him for NZ$72,500 from Eion Kemp's Kilgraven Lodge. A full-sister will be offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Lot 395 on account of Moncurragh Lodge.