Hong Kong Winners Aplenty

The winners flowed on Monday night at Sha Tin, keeping Paul O'Sullivan within six wins of the Trainers' Premiership leader, Casper Fownes, as well as putting the spotlight on the upcoming Bloomsbury Stud (NZ) Dispersal Sale to be held at Karaka next month.

Ever Bright (Cape Cross x Anna's Choice) continued his good form with a win in the HK$1,000,000 Class 2 D'Aguilar Peak Handicap (1800m), completing a hat trick of wins. He was purchased by Ginger Tankard's Waikato Bloodstock at the 2004 Premier Sale from Chequers Stud. Trained by O'Sullivan for Mr and Mrs Arthur Wong Chun Mo this now brings his prize money haul to HK$1,590,000. Everbright was bred by Jen Campin, and is a half-brother to the NZ Derby winner Hades (by Zabeel) - who went on to race with distinction in Hong Kong as Helene Vitality - and the stakes-placed Katchmekate (Bakharoff) and (She's) Swan Lake (Green Perfume).

Medic Power (Bertolini x Quintessence) scored his fourth win in a row in the HK$750,000 Class 4 Mount Butler Handicap (1200m) helping kiwi expat Paul O'Sullivan remain within striking distance of Premiership leader Casper Fownes. Medic Power was purchased by Kirkwall Thoroughbreds at the 2004 National Weanling & Broodmare Sale from the Rich Hill Stud draft for NZ$15,000. He was then re-sold at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale where he was purchased by Lance O'Sullivan from Kirkwall Thoroughbreds for NZ$45,000. One and a quarter lengths behind the winner was the Karaka Premier Sale graduate Royal Pericles (Stravinsky x Magpies). He was purchased by Bruce Wallace from the Wentood Grange draft for NZ$65,000 in 2005.

Although not able to quite get there, The Duke (Danehill x Mer du Sud) continued his good run finishing second behind Joyful Winner (El Moxie x Northern Tycoon) in the feature on the night, HK$4,500,000 The Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). The Duke was purchased at the 2001 Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$200,000 from the Trelawney Stud draft.

The win by Step to Win (Stravinsky x Repetition) in the HK$570,000 Class 4 Jardine's Lookout Handicap (1200m) provided a timely boost for his weanling half-sister by Thorn Park who will go under the hammer at the Bloomsbury Stud (NZ) Dispersal Sale, to be held on Monday 7 May at Karaka.

Step to Win, a NZ$160,000 purchase from the Bloomsbury Stud draft at the 2005 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, was recording his first win from six starts following a promising second last time out. As a broodmare, Repetition - a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Snap - has now had three winners from five offspring to the races.

Rewarding Star (O'Reilly x Astrology), record his first victory in the HK$450,000 Class 5 Mount Davis Handicap (1200m). He was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for NZ$50,000 from Waikato Stud's 2005 Karaka Premier Sale draft.

He was followed home by Mainland Master (Danasinga x Miss Tee), who had been purchased by Waiuku horseman Neville Atkins for NZ$20,000 from Curraghmore Stud's draft at the 2004 Karaka Festival Sale.