Hong Kong Derby Winner Still Wants to Win

Former Hong Kong Derby winner Fay Fay (NZ) (Falkirk) returned to his native land most emphatically with victory in the Group 2 $100,000 Stella Artois Tauranga Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.

Fay Fay (NZ) proves his class with victory in the Group 2 Stella Artois Tauranga Stakes. Photo courtesy of Race Images.

A $13,000 Karaka Festival Sale graduate, Fay Fay was having his first start in New Zealand as he has raced his entire career in Hong Kong so far. The son of Falkirk had not raced since May of 2013 and is now trained by Trevor and Martin Cruz in Cambridge.

“Ultimately a good horse is a good horse,” commented Trevor Cruz. “It all depends on their body and if they still want to try. We went into the race with no expectations. In Hong Kong you never see mud ever so there was a lot of unknowns and variables that you can’t factor in.

“He was retired from Hong Kong in June but was already back in New Zealand, his original plan was to head back to Hong Kong. The owners decided against sending him back and elected to race him here.

“Looking at him, we started with a blank canvass. After looking at the programme we decided we needed to run him in weight-for-age races. After all his tiny issues this run was just a hit out to see if he still wants to do it.”

Racing on a Dead 6 track with rain falling on the day, rider Mark Sweeney was near the tail of the small seven-horse field.

Most of the runners looked likely with 200m with Fay Fay switching back to the inside to make his final run. The seven-year-old dashed to the front and claimed victory by half-a-length.

“We are just taking each race as it comes and this win was just a massive bonus,” said Cruz. “He obviously still wants to race which is a very nice thing.

“This race was always in his plans as a lead up run for the Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day. We now have five weeks to see how he is and how his body is holding up.

“It was a big team effort to get this horse to the races, everybody in the stable has done their part and we are very proud.”

Saturday’s win was Fay Fay’s seventh victory from 24 starts and took his earnings to $2,489,804. He is owned by Alexander Wong of Hong Kong.

Bred by Peter Smith, Fay Fay is out of Centaine mare Glamaine, a half-sister to Listed winner Galahad (Hadaad).

Fay Fay was purchased by NZB as agent for $13,000 at the 2009 Festival Sale from Maara Grange.

Falkirk has three horses entered in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale this week (19 & 20 November). The Ready to Run Sale, the most successful Sale of its kind in Australasia, has attracted a catalogue of 396 two-year-olds.

To view the Ready to Run Sale catalogue, click here. For sales news and information, visit www.nzb.co.nz.