Happy Days for Kiwis in Hong Kong

Mid-week racing at Happy Valley in Hong Kong saw New Zealand-breds winning six of the eight carded races, the highlight being Karaka Premier Sale graduate Sun Trooper keeping his unbeaten record intact.

In the hands of Brett Prebble, Sun Trooper (Stravinsky x Exotic Dancer by Slavic) recorded his fifth win in fine style, taking out the Class 2 Cricket Club Valley Stakes (1000m).

Trained by Almond Lee, the four-year-old sat on the outside of fellow Kiwi Ocean Wide (Kashani x Crystal Jet by Clay Hero) and on entering the straight, drew ahead easily to win by one and a half lengths. Entering Hong Kong earlier this year unraced, he's shot up the ratings to now sit on 102.

Gary Hennessy purchased Sun Trooper at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale for $110,000 from Cambridge Stud. He is now raced by Chow Yuet Kam.

His dam, Exotic Dancer, is a half-sister to another successful Hong Kong galloper in Able Attempt (Spectacular Love) whose wins included the Sha Tin Vase. Stravinsky is set to return to Cambridge Stud's stellar stallion line-up this season after an absence due to EI restrictions from his Northern Hemisphere base in Japan. He currently holds sixth spot on the Hong Kong General Sires table, which is lead by fellow New Zealand-based sire O'Reilly, with Shinko King, Faltaat and Towkay also featuring in the top eight.

Earlier in the card NZB South Island Sale graduate, Par Excellence (Minardi x American Express by Dahar) broke through to record his first win for David Ferraris. After a spate of close placings he took out the Class 4 Black's Link Handicap over 1000 metres.

Par Excellence was bred by WH Holdings with New Zealand Bloodstock acting as agent to secure him at the South Island Sale as a two-year-old for $35,000.

Having his sixth raceday start, the Caspar Fownes-trained son of Sandtrap, Perfect Style (ex La Jura by Kingdom Bay) broke through to win the Class 3 Mount Nicholson Handicap (1200m).  Now a three-year-old, he was purchased by KSM Livestock at the 2007 Karaka Festival Yearling Sale for $27,000 from Seaton Park.

The Class 4 Sir Cecil's Ride Handicap (1800m) went the way of  a Kiwi quinella with Master Dreamer (Dream Well x Tough Call by Val Dansant) sneaking in ahead of Striking Mascot (Minardi x Wauwinet by Bassenthwaite). It was only Master Dreamer's second win of the season to bring his tally of career wins to six.

Takanini trainer Bruce Wallace purchased Master Dreamer at the 2003 Karaka Premier Sale for $62,500 from Fayette Park Stud.

Going one better in the Class 4 Hong Kong Trail Handicap, Floral Picasso (No Excuse Needed x Mystical Flight by Danzalion) lead home a Kiwi trifecta to notch up his second win for Tony Cruz. He was bred by Gary and Linda Hodel of Matamata and is now raced by Jacky Chan, who has also experienced success in Hong Kong with top class gallopers Floral Pegasus and Floral Dynamite.

Legend (Deputy Governor x Goodness Me by Kings Island) finished one and a quarter lengths back in second. He was purchased by Argentinean-based Carlos Ezcurra's Bullrich & Co for $70,000. Bred by Northgate Lodge proprietor Lars Pearson he was offered through the draft of Soliloquy Lodge at the 2006 Karaka Select Sale.

The Karreman Bloodstock-bred Mighty Sun (Zabeel x Artless by Dahar) came in third.

Providing the perfect prelude to Sun Trooper's win was Viva Fighter's (O'Reilly x Ramiya x Dancing Brave) win by a half-length in the Class 3 Violet Hill Handicap (1800m). Bred by Gary Wallace, the win was his sixth and took his prizemoney to over HK$3million.

He was purchased by Michael Stedman Bloodstock for $20,000 at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale from Waikato Stud.

The last day of the Hong Kong season is 1 July with two more feature races set to be run, the Group 3 Premier Cup this Saturday at and the Juvenile Sprint Trophy on 28 June.