Little Bridge Earns Royal Ascot Trip

The in-form sprinter Little Bridge (NZ) - a graduate of New Zealand Bloodstock's Weanling Sale - went back-to-back in Hong Kong's black-type ranks at Sha Tin last night when winning the HK$3 million HK-2 HKJC Sprint Cup (1200m).

Having won the HK-3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m) carrying 60.5 kilograms at his last start, last night Little Bridge (Faltaat x Golden Rose) was forced to work in the hands of jockey Zac Purton to overhaul race leader Leading City (Shamardal), but extended in the last 100 metres to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.

Trainer Danny Shum has confirmed that the five-year-old's victory means that he will have his next start in England where he is nominated for the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June.

Little Bridge wins the HK-2 Sprint Cup. Photo courtesy of the HKJC.

The son of Faltaat is racing in career-best form this season with last night's HK-2 win his fourth at stakes level. This season has seen him claim three stakes races including the HK-3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy and the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) in November.

Bred by Llanhennock Trust, Little Bridge was purchased by Mrs M C Harkema from Wentwood Grange for just $9,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 National Weanling Sale.

Now raced by Ko Kam Piu, Little Bridge has won nine of his 19 starts for over HK$11 million in stakes.

In a timely fillip for New Zealand Bloodstock's Weanling & Broodmare Sale, now just one week away, the weanling session has produced a number of top horses including Group 1 winners Sousa (Galileo) and Nacho Man (Mr. Nancho), Group 2 Wellington Guineas winner Barside (Tobougg), and Guns at Five (Duelled) and Whoshe (Storm Creek) who have both won stakes races this season.

Also successful at Sha Tin last night was Cheerful Double (NZ) (Keeper x Impassion), a $110,000 purchase by NZB as Agent from The Oaks Stud at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale, who took the third win of his career for trainer Dennis Yip in the Class 4 Royal Oak (1600m).

The promising three-year-old Can Do (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous x Snadame) also celebrated a win in the Class 3 Jules Handicap (1200m). Can Do is trained by John Size and has won both of his starts in Hong Kong including his debut by over two lengths in a Class 4 late last month. The colt was an $80,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing Pty from Highview at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale.

New Zealand Bloodstock's National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale (7-9 May) sees 350 weanlings catalogued by 75 individual sires from around the world. To view the sire preview for the Weanling session, click here. To view the catalogue, click here.