Weekend Results From Hong Kong & Singapore

New Zealand bred horses again featured in the finish of a number of races over the weekend at Hong Kong's Sha Tin racetrack and the Singapore racecourse at Kranji.

The biggest highlight was Raider's (NZ) (Gold Brose x Kaapstad Glamour) gutsy second in the Premier HK$2,000,000 Cox's Handicap (1800m). The dual Group 1 winner, formerly known as Grout in New Zealand, finished one and three quarter lengths behind the superbly bred River Dancer (Sadler's Wells x Darara), with another two and a quarter lengths back to Visorhill (Danehill x Visor) in third place.

The Tony Cruz trained Raider was purchased at the 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Colts by Alan Sharrock for $20,000 from the draft Westbury Stud.

The ill fated Westbury Stud sire's progeny appear to have a liking for Hong Kong racing conditions, with recent Gold Brose winners including the very promising Super Brose (NZ) and Honour Supreme (NZ).

The well bred three year old Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill x Miss Priority) also ran a very close second in the second biggest race of the night, the $HK1,000,000 Kowloon Cricket Club Challenge Cup (Class 2, 1400m), going under by a nose to Ever Success (Snippets x Space Fantasy).

Earlier in the evening the New Zealand bred Holy Quest (NZ) (Unbridled's Song x Country Talk) took out the HK$700,000 Gascoigne Handicap (Class 3, 1650m) by a short head from fellow kiwi Turbojet (NZ) (Jetball x Buzzy Bee).

The four year old Holy Quest was purchased at the 2000 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale by Asian Bloodstock Services for $200,000 from the draft of Ra-Ora Haunui Partnership, while Turbojet was purchased at the 1998 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Colts Sale by Kibblewhite Lodge for $15,000 from the draft of Fairdale Stud.

Other New Zealand horses to place at Sha Tin were Buck's Fizz (NZ) (Kaapstad x My Grace), second in the HK$500,000 Pilkem Handicap(Class 5, 1600m) and Step Forward (NZ) (Geiger Counter x Anemone Garden), third in the HK$570,000 Jordan Path Handicap (Class 4, 1650m).

Buck's Fizz was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock for $90,000 at the 1999 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale from the draft of Glenmorgan Farm, while Step Forward was purchased at the 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale by Bryce Tankard for $60,000 from the Ra-Ora Haunui Partnership draft.

New Zealand bred horses also had a great weekend in Singapore, where they picked up wins in three of the eight races on Friday evening.

The three year old Wasabe (NZ) (Personal Escort x Bonnie Jay) won a 1200m $S40,000 restricted maiden race by one length, while Magnum Force (NZ) (Turbulent Dancer x Otehi Opal) won a 1000m $S35,000 sprint by the same margin and Fighting Superior (NZ) (Pentire x Soverina) an 1800m S$35,000 race by a brilliant five and three quarter lengths.

Wasabe was purchased at the 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale by New Zealand Bloodstock's Michael Kneebone on behalf of Mr KL Koh for $35,000 from the draft of Fortune Farm.

Magnum Force was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2002 Singapore Ready to Run Sale by trainer Laurie Laxon for $60,000.

New Zealand Bloodstock's Autumn Yearling and Autumn 2 Year Old Sales, including a 2YO Breeze Up Session are coming up on Friday 9th May.

Breeze Up videos are now available for viewing at www.nzb.co.nz. The Breeze Videos and CD-Roms can also be ordered by contacting Taryn Bax at New Zealand Bloodstock on +64 (0) 9 298 0055 or by emailing [email protected].