Great Guy Caps Great Week For NZB Graduates in Hong Kong
28 May 2007
Sunday night racing at Sha Tin saw the Tony Cruz-trained Great Guy (Black Minnaloushe x Gardd) take out the feature event, the Class 2 HK$1,000,000 Hitachi Trophy (1400m) by three-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Don Felipe with fellow Karaka graduate Kindacross (Cape Cross x Kindness), also trained by Cruz, a further half-a-length back in third.
Bred by Plowman Bloodstock, Great Guy was purchased by Dominic Li for NZ$115,000 from the draft of Windsor Park Stud at the 2005 Karaka Premier Sale. Originally trained by Murray Baker at Cambridge, Cadre Noir (as he was known as in New Zealand) showed plenty of promise last season, gaining two stakes placings as a lightly-raced juvenile, including a debut second at Listed level to eventual NZ Champion two-year-old, Jokers Wild (Black Minnaloushe x Miss Rory).
Great Guy's win capped a great week for the New Zealand Bloodstock graduates in Hong Kong, who won five races on the card at Sha Tin on Thursday night. The feature winner on that occasion was the exciting youngster, Medic Power (Bertolini x Quintessence). Trained by Paul O'Sullivan, he took out the HK$2,300,000 HSBC Premier Sha Tin Vase (1200m) HK-3, recording his sixth win in a row.
The highly acclaimed gelding will now go out for a spell and will resume for a preparation aimed at the Hong Kong International Sprint in December.
Bred by Dame Sian Elias, Hugh Fletcher and Alan Galbraith, Medic Power was originally purchased by Kirkwall Thoroughbreds at the 2004 National Weanling and Broodmare Sale from Rich Hill Stud for NZ$15,00. He was then purchased by Lance O'Sullivan at the 2005 Select Yearling Sale for NZ$45,000. He has now won over HK$3,488,400 in prize money.
Karaka Graduates in Singapore, Hong Kong Week Ending 27 May 2007