Great Weekend For New Zealand Horses In Hong Kong

New Zealand bred horses continue to excel in Hong Kong, with them winning two races and placing in another six at Sha Tin on Saturday.

The day got off to a flying start with the 2YO Everest (Unbridled's Song x Gazebo) scoring by a neck in the HK$700,000 Yau Oi Plate (1000m) for griffins. He defeated the Australian bred Baby King (King of Kings x Misty Baby) and fellow New Zealander Ching Hoi Boy (Danasinga x La Cent).

Both Everest and Ching Hoi Boy were purchased at the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale by New Zealand Bloodstock on behalf of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, with Everest a $220,000 purchase from the draft of Wentwood Grange and Ching Hoi Boy an $80,000 purchase from the Waikato Stud Draft.

The other successful kiwi galloper was Arrogance (British Banker x Crest of Casitas) who led home a New Zealand trifecta in the Class 3 HK$700,000 Kin Sang Handicap (1650m), defeating Holy Quest (Unbridled's Song x Country Talk) and Waialae Win (Honor Grades x Sonchela) by a very comfortable 2 and � quarter lengths.

Both place-getters in the Kin Sang Handicap were sold by the Ra Ora-Haunui Partnership at the 2000 Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, with Holy Quest purchased by Asian Bloodstock Services Ltd for $200,000 and Waialae Win by John Moore for $150,000.

New Zealand was also represented by a number of other place-getters.

The six year old gelding Mascot Treasure (Al Akbar x Flashing Legs) turned in a nice run for third in the big race of the night, the class 2 HK$1,000,000 Butterfly Handicap (1400m), while Grand Fighter (Housebuster x Ebony Glow) also finished in third place in his race, the Class 3 HK$700,000 Yan Oi Tong Cup (1400m).

Sunny Desert (Desert Sun x Trotanoy) ran a great race to finish second by a neck in the class 4 HK$570,000 On Ting Handicap (1400m). Sunny Desert was purchased at the 2001 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale of 2YO's by Grand Harvest Stud for $30,000. The gelding was sold through the draft of Riverleigh Lodge.

Another Ready to Run Sale graduate to put in a nice run was Major Bee (Deputy Governor x Royal Pay) who finished second in the class 4 HK$570,000 Leung King Handicap over 1000m. Major Bee was purchased by Michael Stedman Bloodstock at the 2001 Ready to Run Sale for $65,000 from the draft of Esker Lodge.

The Pompeii Court gelding Silverbird (Pompeii Court x A Little Sneek) was a close third over the mile in the class 4 HK$570,000 Shan King Handicap, while Magic Touch (Housebuster x Lilly of th' Field) finished third in the class 5 HK$500,000 Tai Hing Handicap (1200m).

New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd
Ph +64 9 298 0055
Fax: + 64 9 298 0506
www.nzb.co.nz