Crown's Master Braves the Elements

The ever consistent Crown's Master (Last Tycoon x Ranghiroah) overcame difficult weather conditions to easily take out the HK$2,300,000 Hong Kong Macau Trophy HK-3 (1400m) at Sha Tin last night.

Driving rain greeted the runners as the gates opened making the run down the back straight particularly unpleasant.  Although momentarily in the lead, Stanley Chin eased Crown's Master into the trail once Palace General took over the lead from a wide barrier. 

After a short dual with Tiber halfway down the home straight, Crown's Master drew away, winning comfortably by three-quarters-of-a-length from Tiber, with Karaka Select Sale graduate, Gold Striker (Faltaat x Lady Centaine) a further length-and-a-quarter back in third.  Palace General did well to hang onto fourth place.  The race suited the front runners with the first three home, second, third and fourth on the home turn.

 Trained by Joe Lau, Crown's Master was originally purchased by Russell Cameron from Anzac Lodge for NZ$70,000 at the 2003 Karaka Ready to Run Sale.  He has now had 11 wins from 17 starts and added the HK$1,311,000 prize money earned yesterday to the M$4,203,000 already won in Macau for his owners, Tsang Chi Wai, Eric & Yong Seng Chen.

The five-year-old gelding was bred by Mr and Mrs Roderick McKinnon of Putaruru.  His dam, Lady Jane has been a successful broodmare at stud, so far having a perfect strike rate with four offspring to the races for four winners.  

Gold Striker was originally purchased by now-retired trainer Colin Jillings for NZ$45,000 at the 2003 Karaka Select Sale from Haunui Farm.

In Race  the promising youngster, Winning Fellowship (O'Reilly x Cent From Heaven), won the HK$750,000 Class 3 Coloane Handicap (1000m).  He is trained by Danny Shum, who purchased the three-year-old at the 2005 Karaka Premier Sale from his breeders, Te Parae Trust, for NZ$110,000.   Last night's win was his second from just seven starts, and has already earned Tai Po Rotary Racing Syndicate over HK$1,440,000 in stake money.  

Winning Fellowship is a half-brother to three other winners including the smart Group 3 winner, Eloa (by Volksraad) and is closely related to the very good juvenile Alamosa (O'Reilly x Lodore Mystic), the winner of this season's Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie and third in the only other Group 1 for two-year-olds, the Manawatu Ford Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

Douglas Whyte added to his lead in the Hong Kong Jockey's Premiership, with two wins last night, one of them aboard Joyful Years (El Moxie x Private Gem), in the HK$570,000 Class 4 Lotus Bridge Handicap (1600m).   The four-year-old was purchased by regular Karaka visitor, Australian Bloodstock agent Robert Roulston, for NZ$50,000 at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale from Haunui Farm.  Last night's win was his third for his owners, the Happy Birthday Syndicate.  Whyte is currently six wins ahead of Olivier Delouze in the Jockey Premiership. 

Earlier in the day, 2002 Karaka Select Sale graduate, Globe River (Al Akbar x Lady Jane), scored his first win in the HK$450,000 Class 5 Guia Hill Handicap (1200m).