New Zealand Horses Shine on Hong Kong Derby Day

New Zealand bred gallopers again featured prominently on what was a stellar day of racing in Hong Kong, where the feature event was the Gr.1 Mercedes Hong Kong Derby.

On a track rated good to yielding, Viva Pataca (Marju x Comic) raced away with the feature event. The British bred son of Marju (who formerly shuttled to New Zealand's Haunui Farm) comes from the family of recent Cambridge Stud acquisition, Rose of Tralee (Sadler's Wells x Circus Ring), who is best known as the dam of VRC Oaks winner, Serenade Rose (by Stravinsky).

New Zealand Bloodstock graduates, Calcando (Cape Cross x Wild Blue), Electronics Spur (Flying Spur x Hasty Bird), All's Well (City on a Hill x Alot of Music) and First Among Equals (Tale of the Cat x Fikra) were all successful on the under-card.

Race 2 - Calcando (Cape Cross x Wild Blue) was in a class of his own in the second on the card, the Class 4 Super Fit Handicap (1400m) winning ahead of fellow New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Skyview Bar (Centaine x Rock the Kasbar). The three-year-old son of Cape Cross made it back to back victories and looks to have a bright future for trainer Tony Millard.

Calcando was a pin-hooked yearling and was purchased at the 2004 Ready to Run Sale by New Zealand Bloodstock as agent for Hong Kong for NZ$180,000 from Phoenix Park. John Foote Bloodstock purchased Skyview Bar at the 2004 Karaka Select Yearling Sale for NZ$45,000 from Grand Vue Lodge. The Centaine three-year-old races from the stable of Almond Lee.

Race 4 - Electronics Spur (Flying Spur x Hasty Bird) produced his second career win in the Class 3 William's Coach Handicap (2000m). Expertly ridden by Felix Coetzee, Electronics Spur dictated the race from the outset, before staving off the challengers in the straight. Nasa Pearl (Centaine x Nasajuanita) finished third with Olivier Dolouze taking the shortest way home along the rails, while ace favourite, All Chances (Pins x Gaysutina) battled on gamely for fourth.

Dan O'Donnell purchased Electronics Spur at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$120,000 from Rodmor Stud. Paul O'Sullivan trained the third place-getter, Nasa Pearl who was a Stuart Hale purchase at the 2001 Karaka Select Colts Sale for NZ$52,000 from Waikato Stud.

Race 5 ­- All's Well (City on a Hill x Alot of Music) one of the most exciting gallopers on the Hong Kong circuit continued his meteoric rise with a decisive victory in the Class 1 Maybach Race (1400m). Confidently ridden by Shane Dye, All's Well raced back in the field before gaining a split at the top of the straight and powering away from his rivals. He has now had six wins, three seconds and one third from his ten starts and helped to give trainer Danny Shum a quinella in the race.

Bred and initially sold by Curraghmore Stud, All's Well was purchased by Tommy Cheung at the 2004 Ready to Run Sale for NZ$40,000 from the draft of Teddy Hausman's Mission Lodge.

New Zealand bred My Choice (Volksraad x Chianina) was third.

Race 10 - First Among Equals (Tale of the Cat x Fikra) won the last event on the card, the Class 2 River Verdon Handicap (1400m) in a photo finish. The race produced a New Zealand Bloodstock graduate trifecta with Gold Striker (Faltaat x Lady Centaine) and Able One (Cape Cross x Gardenia) rounding off the placings.

New Zealand Bloodstock as agent purchased First Among Equals for Hong Kong at the 2002 Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$80,000 from Woodsend Farm.

Former successful trainer, Colin Jillings purchased Gold Striker at the 2003 Select Colts Sale from Haunui Farm for NZ$45,000.

Able One was the top priced lot at the 2004 Ready to Run Sale where he was purchased by Paul Beamish Bloodstock for NZ$270,000 from Phoenix Park.