Beauty Flash Wins the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile
13 December 2010
Sunday night's running of the world's richest mile race, the Group 1 HK$16 million HKJC Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin saw a brilliant performance from Beauty Flash to take the Group 1 honours.
Drawing the widest barrier of 14 for the coveted Group 1 mile, Beauty Flash (Golan x Wychwood Rose) jumped well in the hands of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Gerald Mosse, settling right on the pace behind race leader and fellow Kiwi bred Sight Winner.
Coming into the straight, Mosse made his move ranging up to Sight Winner and taking the lead at the 300 metres. Looking strong, French contender Sahpresa looked a real danger as she loomed up at the 150 metre mark, but Mosse rated Beauty Flash brilliantly and the gelding produced another gear to hold off the challengers and record a career best win.
Trained by Hong Kong's six-time champion jockey Anthony Cruz, the five-year-old notched up his seventh win in the Hong Kong Mile, taking his stakes earnings to over NZ$3.5 million.
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�Beauty Flash wisn the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile. Photo HKJC |
Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Beauty Flash was bought by Mr D O'Donnell from Halidon Hill for $65,000 from the 2007 Karaka Select Yearling Sale. The son of Golan is New Zealand Bloodstock's fourth individual Group 1 winner this season, with graduates winning nine Group 1 races in three countries around the globe.
Beauty Flash was one of four New Zealand bred winners at Sha Tin's premier race day with victories from Affluence of Rain (Lonhro x Stella Maree), King Al Akbar (Al Akbar x Grande) and Lucky Bravo (Faltaat x Arousing), giving New Zealand the highest amount of wins from any country in the prestigious meeting.
Beauty Flash is the third Hong Kong black type winner for New Zealand so far this season which sees New Zealand first equal for black type winners and Group 1 winners in Hong Kong; and, in an amazing achievement, New Zealand leads the way for individual race winners and race wins in Hong Kong this season.
Hong Kong buyers have been big supporters of New Zealand bred horses and the Karaka National Yearling Sale Series. In 2009, Hong Kong buyers spent over NZ$10.7 million at the yearling sales and almost $11 million this year.
The 2011 Karaka National Yearling Sale Series has a large draft of 1622 horses up for auction, with 503 in the Premier Yearling Sale, 20 more than last year's 483. And on paper at least, the selection is as good as New Zealand has ever had to offer.
Among the quality draft are siblings to Hong Kong stars including Westbury Stud's colt Lot 143. By the Group 1 winning son of Danehill in Al Maher, the colt is from Wily Trick, the dam of the HK-1 Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion, who also won the HK-2 Chairman's Trophy.
Lot 450 from Whakanui Stud is another that is sure to be in hot demand; the filly is by Australian champion sire Encosta de Lago from the Last Tycoon mare Mrs. Squillionaire, the dam of the Group 1 Krisflyer International Sprint winner and New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Green Birdie. Also the winner of the HK-2 Hong Kong Derby Trial and the HK-3 Premier Bowl, Green Birdie has been an outstanding performer and flag bearer for New Zealand and New Zealand Bloodstock.
Lot 426 is another that is sure to impress. The filly is also from the Whakanui Stud draft and is by New Zealand's champion sire Zabeel from Mantles Princess, the dam of another HK-1 Hong Kong Derby winner in Super Satin.
The Sale has a number of horses by leading sires such as Zabeel, O'Reilly, Danehill Dancer, Encosta de Lago, High Chaparral, Pins, Fastnet Rock, Elusive City, Golan and many more.
New Zealand Bloodstock graduates also notched up wins in Macau and Singapore over the weekend and are shown in the table below.
| Horse | Breeding | Race | NZB Sale Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Two | Pins x Wry | Singapore Restricted Maiden, 1000 | v. Shelby Park. MS K CLAPPERTON. 2009 Select Yearling P. $30,000 |
| Steven | Elusive City x Goodwood Jazz | Singapore Class 4, 1200 | v. Valachi Downs. MR LK LAXON. 2008 Ready to Run P. $36,000 |
| Salvagente | Drama Critic x On Leave | Singapore Class 5, 1600m | v. Grange Farm. DEAN HAWTHORNE BLOODSTOCK. 2006 South Island Sale. $5,000 |
| Collect the Cash | Keeper x First payment | Singapore Kranji Stakes, 1200m | v. Sir James Lodge. P/I 2008 Select Yearling P. |
| Magic leg | St. Petersburg x Plex | Singapore Class 4, 1600 | v. Carberry Farm. NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK. 2006 South Island Sale P. $12,000 |
| Smitten Kitten | Handsome Ransom x Catania | Singapore Class 5, 1200m | v. Stoney Creek Lodge. MRS MC HARKEMA. 2008 South Island Sale of 2YOs and Mixed Bloodstock P. $16,500 |
| Top Priority | Postponed x Motown Music | Singapore Restricted Maiden, 1200 | v. Woodridge Farm. MR Y ONIZUKA. 2009 Ready to Run Sale P. $16,000 |
| Wealthy Man | Danzighill x Tatts M' Name | Macau Japan RA Trophy H, 1400m | v. White Robe Lodge. MR L DIDHAM. 2008 South Island Sale of 2YOs and Mixed Bloodstock P. $7,000 |
| Danpaoshaq | Danasinga x Clever Clogs | Macau Racing South Africa Trophy, 1800m | v. Willowbank Stud. NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK. 2007 Ready to Run P. $130,000 |
| Hariston | Pentire x Donna's Habit | Macau Royal Bangkok Sports Club, 1500m | v. Rich Hill Stud. MR KK LUI. 2008 Ready to Run P. $52,500 |
The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Series will begin with the Premier Yearling Sale on 31 January & 1 February. The Karaka Select Sale will run from 2 - 4 February with the Karaka Festival Sale on 6 & 7 February.
If you would like to order a catalogue for the Karaka Yearling Sales or would like any information about the sale including assistance with flights and accommodation in New Zealand, please visit www.nzb.co.nz or contact New Zealand Bloodstock on +64 9 298 0055.