Nine Karaka Graduates set for Hong Kong International Meeting
11 December 2009
The world's racing stars all converge on Sha Tin on Sunday to compete at the Cathay Pacific International Meeting, including nine graduates of the Karaka sales ring.
The meeting features four Group 1 races on the ten-race card, with 51 �contestants fighting for the HK$62,000,000 (NZ$14,670,000) in prize money. New Zealand-breds, as the�country with the biggest representation, account for�11 of these 51 international horses (22%), with Australia, Japan, Europe, the United States of America, and further afield also represented.
With a history of success at the international meeting, previous Karaka victors include The Duke (Danehill) who won the 2006 Hong Kong Mile, while Hong Kong Lifetime Achievement awarded Vengeance of Rain (Zabeel) took the 2005 Hong Kong Cup.
2009 HK$14,000,000 Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (2400m) - 7pm (NZ time)
New Zealand is represented by Karaka graduates Black Mamba, Packing Winner, Jackpot Delight (formerly Hamlet's Ghost), and Thumbs Up.
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| �Black Mamba (NZ) |
Purchased in Kentucky this past November for US$1.5 million by Australian-based Evergreen Stud, Black Mamba (Black Minnaloushe) is a Grade 1 winner over 1800m on turf in the USA. Set to see out her racing days in Hong Kong for owner Mr. PK Siu, US$1,000,000 earner Black Mamba (drawn 2) is trained by John Sadler and has Olivier Doleuze aboard on Sunday.
Packing Winner (Zabeel) (drawn 6), who won the 2008 HK-1 Champions and Chater Cup for trainer Peter Ho, returned to his very best form when beating the likes of Collection, Viva Pataca, Good Ba Ba and Thumbs Up in the HK-3 Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) in his first start of the new season. His jockey on that occasion was Brett Doyle who retains the mount on Sunday.
Ghostly grey Jackpot Delight (Danasinga) won five races in a row in New Zealand before being sold to Hong Kong where he was a close second in the HK-1 Mercedes Derby (2000m). Trained by Casper Fownes, and to be ridden by James Winks, Jackpot Delight will jump from barrier 11 at his second attempt over 2400m.
Thumbs Up (Shinko King) proved good enough to win the HK-1 Hong Kong Classic Mile last season and has good form at his only start at 2400m when second by a neck to Viva Pataca in the HK-1 Champions and Chater Cup last season. Thumbs Up is prepared by Danny Shum and will be partnered by Brett Prebble from barrier 12.
International interest in this field includes the likes of Group 1 Prix De l'Arc de Triomphe place-getter Youmzain (Sinndar), Juddmonte Farm's Spanish Moon (El Prado), the Aga Khan's unbeaten three-year-old filly Daryakana (Selkirk), and Hong Kong hero Viva Pataca (Marju).
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2009 HK$12,000,000 HK-1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) - 7.40pm (NZ time)
New Zealand is represented by Karaka graduates Green Birdie and Joy and Fun.
Green Birdie (Catbird) (drawn 5) was trained by Casper Fownes to win the HK-3 Premier Bowl (1200m) when fresh first-up last season, and he enters Sunday's Group 1 event in the same state with Olivier Doleuze set to ride.
Derek Cruz's Joy and Fun (Cullen) has drawn the marble outside Green Birdie with Brett Doyle taking the mount. Joy and Fun produced a slashing last sectional to place third in the Group 2 International Sprint Trial (1200m) last start, with a repeat performance seeing him right in the mix here.
International interest in this field include Australian raiders Scenic Blast (Scenic), All Silent (Belong to Me), and the baldy faced Apache Cat (Lion Cavern). Group 1 Japanese sprinter Laurel Guerreiro (King Halo) and Group 1 European sprinter Borderlescott (Compton Place) also take their place, as does Hong Kong's defending International Sprint champion, Inspiration (Flying Spur).
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2009 HK$16,000,000 HK-1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (1600m) - 8.50pm (NZ time)
New Zealand is represented by Karaka graduates Egyptian Ra, Able One, and Sight Winner, as well as Fellowship.
Tony Cruz's Egyptian Ra (Woodborough) (drawn 14), the runaway leader and winner of the HK-3 National Day Cup (1400m), will be reunited with master tactician Felix Coetzee who has won on the gelding in three of his past four wins and guided him to third place in this race last year.
Karaka Ready to Run graduate Able One (Cape Cross) (drawn 3) is top class on his day and ran out an impressive winner of the 2007 HK-1 Champions Mile for trainer John Moore. Second in the race last year behind Good Ba Ba, Able One will be ridden by top Australian born jockey Brett Prebble.
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| �Egyptian Ra (NZ)�(inside) and Sight Winner (NZ)�(middle) fight out the Group 1 Champions Mile. |
Sight Winner has proven that his 2009 Group 1 Champions Mile victory was no fluke with a solid second behind Fellowship in the Group 2 Mile Trial three weeks ago. From barrier�5 Sight Winner will be able to position up close to the pace and will give real cheek in the hands of Douglas Whyte for trainer John Size.
Paul O'Sullivan will be represented at the International meeting by his Mile Trial winner Fellowship (O'Reilly). Zac Purton will ride the son of O'Reilly handy from his inside barrier.
International interest in this field includes the likes of local hero Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), Australia's Racing to Win (Encosta De Lago), Godolphin's Alexandros (Kingmambo), and Hong Kong up-and-comer, Happy Zero (Danzero).
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2009 HK$20,000,000 HK-1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (2000m) - 9.30pm (NZ time)
New Zealand is represented by Karaka graduate Special Days in the elite field of ten.
A winner of three in Hong Kong last season, Special Days (Keeper) (drawn 8)�will enjoy the step-up to 2000m for the first time for his master trainer John Size. Craig Williams jets in from Melbourne to get on the back of Special Days whose usual pattern of racing is to settle at the tail of the field.
The International Cup field is full of global Group 1 winners including Vision D'Etat (Chichicastenango), Presvis (Sakhee), Queen Spumante (Jungle Pocket) and Hong Kong Cup defending champion Eagle Mountain (Rock of Gibraltar). Locals also have a strong hand with HK Mercedes Derby winner Collection (Peintre Celebre), and fast finisher Mr. Medici (Medicean).
Full list of NZ-breds set to compete at Group 1 level at Sha Tin on Sunday:
| NZ-Bred | Race | Breeding | Sale, Price | Vendor | Trainer | Jockey | Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Days | Hong Hong Cup� | Keeper� - Eva's Belle� | RTR, $160,000 | Mana Park | John Size | Craig Williams | Magnus Equine |
| � | � | � | � | � | � | � | � |
| Egyptian Ra | Hong Kong Mile� | Woodborough - Egyptian Queen� | K2, Psd� | Canterbury Park | Tony Cruz | Felix Coetzee | Not Applicable |
| Able One | Hong Kong Mile� | Cape Cross� - Gardenia | RTR, $270,000 | Phoenix Park | John� Moore | Brett Prebble | Paul Beamish |
| Sight Winner | Hong Kong Mile� | Faltaat- Kinjinette�� | K1, $60,000 | Wesbury Stud | John Size | Douglas Whyte | John Foote |
| Fellowship | Hong Kong Mile� | O'Reilly� - Mystic Flight | No Sale | Not Applicable | Paul O'Sullivan� | Zac Purton | Not Applicable |
| � | � | � | � | � | � | � | � |
| Thumbs Up | Hong Kong Vase | Shinko King� - Regelle� | No Sale | Not Applicable | Danny Shum | Brett Prebble | Not Applicable |
| Packing Winner | Hong Kong Vase | Zabeel� - Musical Note� | K1, $300,000 | Cambridge Stud | PeterHo | Brett Doyle | Dominion Bloodstock |
| Jackpot Delight | Hong Kong Vase | Danasinga� - Principation | K1, $55,000 | Waikato Stud | Caspar Fownes | James Winks | David Ellis |
| Black Mamba | Hong Kong Vase | Black Minnaloushe� - Sneetch� | K1, $120,000 | Trelawney Stud | John Sadler | Olivier Doleuze | Murray Baker |
| � | � | � | � | � | � | � | � |
| Green Birdie | Hong Kong Sprint� | Catbird� - Mrs Squillionaire | K1,� $230,000 | Whakanui Stud | Caspar Fownes | Olivier Doleuze | Willie Leung |
| Joy and Fun | Hong Kong Sprint� | Cullen� - Gin Player� | Nwean, $15,000 | Java Lodge | Derek Cruz | Brett Doyle | NZB as agent |
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