Group 1 Glory for D B Pin

D B Pin (Darci Brahma), a close relative to the unbeaten Karaka Million winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), completed a wonderful weekend for that family and for Karaka graduates with victory in Sunday’s HK$10 million Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.

D B Pin is a half-brother to Avantage’s dam Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel).

The John Size-trained D B Pin had finished second to his stablemate and fellow Karaka graduate Mr Stunning (Exceed and Excel) in last month’s Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint, but turned the tables in the Centenary Sprint Cup.

Ridden by Olivier Doleuze, D B Pin came with a late surge from midfield, taking the lead inside the last 150 metres and scoring by a neck from Mr Stunning and Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook).

“He’s made incremental improvement every time he’s gone to the races, but particularly this season,” Size said. “He’s a naturally fast horse, but this season he’s learnt to settle – under Olivier’s guidance, he’s certainly come on and puts most of his energy into the last 400m, which is winning races for him.”

A $200,000 purchase at the 2014 Premier Sale, D B Pin has now had 13 starts for five wins, seven placings and HK$10.9 million in prizemoney.

A half-sister by Fastnet Rock will go through the ring as Lot 479 in The Oaks Stud’s draft in Karaka Book 1.