Kiwis Score 7 Wins in Hong Kong

New Zealand horses were to the fore last night at Sha Tin, claiming seven races on the ten-race card, and another four at Kranji in Singapore.

Among the seven New Zealand bred winners in Hong Kong was the Dennis Yip trained Garlic Boy (Savabeel x Bally Kiss) who claimed his third consecutive victory last night in a HK$950K Class 3 1600 metre race by a nose.

Martin is shaping up as a good Singapore Derby prospect

Raced by Rolon Cheung Cho Yiu & Wilson Cheung Wing Yim, the four-year-old son of Savabeel is unbeaten this preparation in three starts, with his only defeat in Hong Kong coming on debut in July where he ran fourth.

Garlic Boy had one winning trial in New Zealand for trainer Sam Lennox in August last year before being taken to Hong Kong.

The first on the card to take victory for NZ was the Paul O'Sullivan trained Disciples Twelve (Keeninsky x Sophalopha) who won his debut in a HK$700K Class 4 1000 metre race by one-and-a-half lengths under jockey Douglas Whyte.

The horse is raced by the Megafolks Syndicate and had two trials in New Zealand – winning his last – before being flown to Hong Kong.

“He’s a very nice horse and he could be very competitive over 1400 or 1600 metres,” commented O'Sullivan. “He was a bit flatted when Douglas pressed the button but he kept coming up and won it nicely. As a horse with no racing experience he performed really well.”

One of eight winners for his sire Darci Brahma since Friday, Holyangelholy (ex Rosetti Bay) put together back-to-back wins in the HK$700k Class 4 1200 metre race by half a length. The gelding is trained by John Size and has now won two of his eight starts for his owner Winston Koo Wing Ho.

In Singapore the Laurie Laxon trained Martin (Colombia x Hayletzdance) headed a smart list of New Zealand winners, racing to a two-length victory in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes (2040m) for his owner the Oscar Racing Stable.

The four-year-old has made a good start to his career in Singapore winning four of his 11 starts with a further six placings and Laxon has bigger things in store for the horse.

“He’s a nice horse and a pretty handy stayer,” said Shane Ellis, Laxon’s assistant trainer. “He could make a nice Derby horse next year.

“He stays all day and he’s probably better getting back and coming with a run. In the end it was a good strong win.”