Kiwis Competitive on Champions & Chater Day at Sha Tin
29 May 2006
Group One glory evaded New Zealand bred, Best Gift, yet again in Hong Kong yesterday, this time with Hong Kong Derby winner, Viva Pataca, snatching victory in the prestigious HK$8m Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin.
On a miserable day in Hong Kong, the feature race was contested by three New Zealand bred horses in the nine-horse field, with two of the three filling the minor placings.
The ultra-consistent performer, Best Gift (Bahhare x Shock Attack), hoped a Group 1 win might be within his grasp having previously run second to Vengeance of Rain and third to Ouija Board in Group 1 events. But finding himself in a spot of trouble in the closing stages, Best Gift couldn't catch the Mick Kinane ridden, Viva Pataca, an impressive winner of nine from 13 starts.
The New Zealand-bred Super Combed (Faltaat x Flick Alight), coming from last on the turn, finished just one length behind the winner in third spot for trainer Tony Cruz and jockey Felix Coetzee.
Both trained by John Moore, Viva Pataca and Best Gift gave the trainer the Group 1 quinella, with his third charge, Kiwi-bred Super Kid (Gaius x Pompeii Pride), finishing in fourth. The result was Moore's 61st win for the season, just nine wins behind John Size's current lead on the Hong Kong trainers' rankings with 70 wins to date.
Also at Sha Tin yesterday, were five New Zealand bred winners: Posa (Bahhare x The Model), Conqueror (Woodborough x Britney's Way), Ocean Tranquil (Align x Crystal Jet), Best Power (Kashani x Wisdom) and Armada (Towkay x Dance in Time) .
A rising star in Hong Kong, Armada made it five from five in the last race of the day, the Class 2 Super Win Handicap (1400m). Although finding the conditions tough going, the four year old's class shone through to win by one and a quarter lengths. The win was the third of the day for jockey, Douglas Whyte, and the second for John Size.
Armada's New Zealand based sire, Towkay (by Last Tycoon), currently has four winners from five starters in Hong Kong this season including Happee Owner and Lotzatow.
In Race 1, Chris Munce recorded his first success in Hong Kong, aboard Posa in the Class 5 event over 2000m. The 2003 Karaka Festival Sale graduate was bought for NZ$12,000 by Mr Tony Williams.
Race 2 saw Conqueror given the run of the race by jockey, HK Yim, for trainer Alex Wong, securing the first win for the three year old gelding in the Class 4 event over 1400m. A graduate of the Karaka salesring, Conqueror was sold at foot when his dam, Britney's Way (by Star Way) was purchased by Karapiro Bloodstock from Stonehaven Lodge for NZ$8,000 at the National Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale in 2003.
Caspar Fownes had his winner of the day in Race 3, when the New Zealand-bred Ocean Tranquil claimed the Class 3 Flying Dancer Handicap (1200m). His first start since the beginning of April, the three year old dug in to win decisively.
It was New Zealand bred, Best Power, who snatched the victory in Race 6 from favourite, Vitality Champ. Ridden by Shane Dye for Danny Shum, Best Power was guided along the inside rail to hold on by half a length in the Class 3 Housemaster Handicap (1600m). In third place was New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Summerville Power (Zabeel x Tea Party).