Kiwis Signal Hong Kong Intentions

Two extra smart New Zealand Bloodstock graduates signalled their intentions for next season with terrific victories at Sha Tin on the last day of Hong Kong's racing season.

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�Jackpot Delight (NZ)

The richest event on the card, the HK$1,750,000 Class 1 The Sha Tin Mile Trophy (1600m), was taken out by ghostly grey Jackpot Delight (Danasinga x Principation, by Prince Echo), giving his trainer Casper Fownes a premiership winning� 68 winners in Hong Kong this season.

Formerly raced in New Zealand by the Mark Walker stable as Hamlet's Ghost, the five-year-old won five races in a row on Kiwi soil before making his way to Hong Kong. Now the winner of two in Hong Kong, Jackpot Delight has placed in four Group races there including a close second in the prestigious 2008 Mercedes Benz Hong Kong Derby.

Last night Jackpot Delight thrilled over 63,000 on-course racing fans in the process of winning the last race of the season by a neck in the hands of Weichong Marwing.

Relaxed at the tail of the field in running, Marwing pulled Jackpot Delight to the very outside of the field in the roomy Sha Tin straight and, reeling in the leaders, he fought off fellow fast finisher Mr Medici (Medicean) on his inside to score the victory.

He posted a slick time of 1.34.88 for the 1600m, made more impressive by the fact that early sectionals for the race indicated a lackadaisical pace up front.

The win took his Hong Kong earnings to HK$7,698,750 (NZ$1,550,000) for Peter Law Kin Sang, but more importantly signalled a return to the winner's circle which bodes well for next season.

A $55,000 purchase by David Ellis from Waikato Stud at the 2005 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, Jackpot Delight is a grandson of champion mare Emancipation (Bletchingly), as are Group 1 winners Railings and Virage de Fortune. Also a grey, Emancipation won six Group 1 races including the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap.

Another who showed plenty of ability on New Zealand soil before taking on Hong Kong was Kabalevsky (Giant's Causeway x Lucrative Dame, by Zeditave), now raced as Amigo from the Michael Chang Stable.

Trained by Stephen Marsh to win two trials and a Waverly maiden race by seven lengths, with a further ten lengths back to third, Amigo had shown enormous prowess for racing and he delivered again last night at his first outing in Hong Kong.

The aptly named Being Famous Handicap (1200m) saw a field of fourteen face the judge including a hot favourite in fellow NZ-bred, Always Something (Black Minnaloushe), who was unbeaten in two starts.

Positioned similarly to Jackpot Delight at the tail of the field by Zac Purton, Amigo was not sighted as horses turned for home, and furthermore, was not picked up on camera shot until 100m metres from home due to his wide roaming use of the Sha Tin straight.

Amigo put paid to his rivals in a few long, stretching strides, with his three-quarter length winning margin doing little justice to his dominance.

Trainer Michael Chang can be very pleased with himself having purchasing the colt from the draft of Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for $170,000. Amigo is now raced in the blue and yellow checked squares of the 2008/09 Michael Chang Trainer Syndicate.

Unbeaten in two starts, Amigo has earned his price tag back already, with plenty to like about his prospects in Hong Kong next season as a four-year-old.

New Zealand had further success on Hong Kong racing's farewell for the season, picking up two awards at the 2009 Champion Awards.

South Island Sale graduate More Bountiful (Van Nistelrooy x Centaine Gu Li, by Centaine) picked up the title for Most Improved Horse for trainer John�Size after a season which saw him increase his rating by �72 points to 124 with six victories including the HK-2 HKJC Chairman's Trophy, beating Viva Pataca and Fellowship.

The $38,000 purchase by John Foote from Little Avondale Stud won HK$6,335,000 (NZ$1,300,000) for The Lucky Lord Syndicate this season.

Hong Kong buyers were also reminded of the value of buying NZ thoroughbreds at the annual Hong Kong International Sale when Big Profit (Howbaddouwantit x Fairdale Lass, by Centaine) followed in the footsteps of multiple Group 1 winners Good Ba Ba and Scintillation in winning the HK$1,000,000 (NZ$200,000 approx.)Hong Kong International Sale bonus.

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�Big Profit

A $160,000 purchase by the Hong Kong Jockey Club from Fairdale Stud at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale, Big Profit won the prize due to having the highest accumulation of prizemoney of any 2007 HKIS graduate. In the final tally Big Profit won HK$4,124,875 from five victories this season for Danny Shum and owners Mr & Mrs Yem Ming and Mr & Mrs William Yem Wai Lai.

Your next opportunity to buy from New Zealand Bloodstock is the Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale on Sunday 2 August followed by the South Island Sale of 2YOs & Mixed Bloodstock on Friday�7 August.