Back With A Vengeance

There was much to admire in the way Karaka graduate Vengeance of Rain (Zabeel x Danelagh) stuck on for his win in the feature HK$8,000,000 HK-1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin last night.

A previous winner of the Gr1 HK Derby, Gr1 Champions & Chater Cup, Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Gr1 HK International Cup & Gr2 International Cup Trial Vengeance of Rain managed to hold off the fast-finishing Viva Pataca - the winning margin just a nose at the finish line - with Bullish Luck nearly three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.

Jockey Anthony Delpech aided the six-year-old's chances by providing him with a nice rails run for most of the journey before peeling off the rail on the home turn to launch his sprint home.

Originally purchased by trans-tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson for NZ$300,000 from Cambridge Stud at the 2002 Karaka Premier Sale, the gelding, originally named Subscribe, was lightly raced in Australia. He then transferred to Hong Kong where, trained by David Ferraris, he has now recorded a further eight wins and amassed over HK$40 million in prize money for his owners Raymond Gianco Chow Hon Man and the Executors of the Estate of the late Chow Nam.

Vengeance of Rain was not the only highlight for the Kiwis, with a New Zealand Bloodstock quinella amongst the other top New Zealand performances on the night.

In Race 2, the Class 4 Gay Eighties Handicap (1200m), Super Fighter (Gold Brose x Amaroo) held off Keen Taker (Glided Time x What An Offer) by three-quarters-of-a-length. Super Fighter was purchased for NZ$135,000 from The Oaks Stud at the 2003 Karaka Select Sale. Keen Taker was a 2005 Karaka Ready to Run Sale purchase from Anzac Lodge for NZ$70,000.

In Race 3, the Class 1 Co-Tack Handicap (1600m), Gold Striker (Faltaat x Lady Centaine) prevailed by three-quarters of a length from fellow kiwi Maverick Star (Desert King x Cenphic) to secure his second Class 1 victory. Trained by John Size, Gold Striker was purchased by now-retired trainer Colin Jillings from Haunui Farm's draft for NZ$45,000 at the 2003 Karaka Select Sale.

Egyptian Ra (Woodborough x Egyptian Queen), a half-brother to Group One winning (Our) Egyptian Raine (by Desert Sun), was a convincing victor by one-and-a-half lengths in the final race on the card, the Class 3 Industrialist Handicap (1400m). The win was the second of the night for trainer David Hall.