Kiwis Excel at Sha Tin

26 February 2007

New Zealand bred horses took out five out of the ten races in Hong Kong while it was another good day at the office for ex-pat Kiwi trainer Paul O'Sullivan. Making his mark at Sha Tin, he trained three winners on the night to bring himself within five wins of premiership leader Casper Fownes.

Winning his first start in Hong Kong, the O'Sullivan-trained Fellowship (O'Reilly x Mystical Flight) looks to have settled well into his new surroundings. He took out the Class 3 Elgin Handicap (1400m), by two-and-a-quarter lengths for his new owner David Sin Wai Kin. The four-year-old raced as Walsburgs Pride in New Zealand where he scored two wins from three starts for Richard Coxon.

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Ever Bright (Cape Cross x Anna's Choice) took out the Class 3 Gage Handicap (1800m). He was purchased in 2004 by Ginger Tankard's Waikato Bloodstock, for NZ$115,000, from Chequers Stud.

O'Sullivan's third winner on the day was courtesy of Treasurable (Electronic Zone x Country Inn) in the Silent Witness Handicap (1200m). Three-quarters-of-a-length behind him was Circuit Hero (Chief Bearhart x Star Child), who was purchased by Nigel & Adair Auret for NZ$17,500 at the 2004 Spring Bloodstock Sale.

Race 7, the Class 4 Peel Handicap (1600m), resulted in a Karaka Premier Sale graduate trifecta. First home was Safety First (Danasinga x Khairleigh), a NZ$60,000 purchase from Waikato Stud in 2005. Three-quarter's-of-a-length behind him was Triumphant Diamond (Centaine x Ransom Bay) with Sohna (Canny Lad x Zinarush) the same margin back in third. Triumphant Diamond was a NZ$47,500 Tony Pike purchase from Trelawney Stud's 2004 draft. Also sold in 2005, Sohna was purchased from�for NZ$175,000.

The New Zealand-bred Bajan Bell (Deputy Governor x Culture Shock) took out the Class 4 Lyndhurst Handicap (1400m).