Kiwis Win Six at HK Season Opener

After an outstanding 2008-09 in Hong Kong, New Zealand-bred horses got off to a great start for 2009-10 with the first meeting of the season seeing them win six of the ten-race card, including a Kiwi-trifecta headed by former Champion NZ 2YO Nightline in the Class 1 feature.

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�Nightlign stretching out to win the first feature race of the Hong Kong season. Photo: HKJC
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Bred by Lyn Hawtin, Nightlign (Align x Indian Squaw by Carolingian) was previously trained in New Zealand by Keith and Brendon Hawtin and left for Hong Kong unbeaten in three starts including the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.

Now trained by Almond Lee, he was ridden by Jeff Lloyd to win the fourth race on the card, the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup over 1200 metres for owner Lo Chuen Hang.

Fellow kiwis Tuscan Spirit (Chianti x Fortelo by Armidale) finished a nose back in second while race favourite, Medic Power (Bertolini x Quintessence by Crested Wave), came in third for trainer Tony Cruz.

Tuscan Spirit - a four-time winner last season for John Size - was purchased at Karaka as a weanling by Hallmark Stud for $6,750 from Te Runga Stud, who stand his sire Chianti. He was then purchased by Bill Stretton for $40,000 at the Karaka Festival Sale.

Like Tuscan Spirit, Medic Power was another successful pin-hook, this time by Kirkwall Thoroughbreds who purchased the colt from Rich Hill Stud for $15,000 as a weanling, then on-sold to Lance O'Sullivan for $45,000 at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale.

Ambitious Treasure (O'Reilly x The Grin by Grosvenor) returned to Sha Tin as a four-year-old to orchestrate a comeback full of merit winning the Class 4 Causeway Bay Handicap (1200m) for Ricky Yiu after fourteen months unsighted on race-day.

He was prepared by Rodmor Stud for his Invercargill based breeders, the Dennis Brothers, and was purchased from the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $510,000.

Winning the Class 2 Sheung Wan Handicap over 1000 metres was Wine Win (Stravinsky x Tycoon's Gold by Last Tycoon), to make it three wins on end for trainer Almond Lee.� The highly accomplished sprinter by Stravinsky - purchased by Graeme Sanders at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale for $180,000 from Lyndhurst Farm - has now won four races at 1000m. His tally of five wins in Hong Kong has accrued HK$4,543,600 for owner Lam Man Chan.

Ridden by ex New Zealand-based apprentice KC Leung, Zarita's half-brother Sea Prince (Spartacus x Gin Player by Defensive Play) capped a successful weekend for breeder Scott Williams, winning the Class 3 Wan Chai Handicap (1400m). He was bought at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for $180,000 from Rich Hill Stud and is now raced by the HK Gold Club Racing Syndicate.

Other NZ-bred horses to win at Sha Tin on the night included Terrific Bretherin (Jahafil x Calender Girl by Straight Strike), who has now won his last four starts to bring his career tally to seven for Tony Cruz, and All Time High (Kaapstad x Boganvillia by Centaine) for the same well regarded trainer.

Last season New Zealand-bred horses in Hong Kong out-performed all other nations represented in terms of number of winners, strike rate of winners to runners, stakes performers and prizemoney won.

The Karaka Spring Sale is now less than two weeks away. The sale will be held at the Karaka Sales Complex on Friday 25 September, commencing at 1pm. Click here to view the online catalogue or email [email protected] to request a copy.

Included in this sale is the Twin Pines Unreserved Dispersal sale. The Receivers of Stoney Bridge Thoroughbred Limited advise that all Twin Pines horses are for sale, unreserved. All horses will be sold at the sale and the Receivers will not be accepting any offers prior to the sale, ensuring all potential purchasers have an equal opportunity to acquire the unreserved Twin Pines bloodstock on offer.

To assist with the sale process, an informal viewing of the horses prior to the sale is available at the Twin Pines Karaka property,113 Kidd Road, Karaka, daily, in the week leading up to the sale between the hours of 2pm and 5pm until Wednesday 23 September 2009 or by appointment. The horses will then be available for viewing at the Karaka Sales Complex from the afternoon of Thursday 24 September 2009.

Click here for the sale preview.