Ottimo Wins Four in a Row

2008 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale graduate Ottimo notched up his fourth consecutive career win in Hong Kong on Thursday.

In his latest victory in the Class 3 HK$850,000 Heung Yip Handicap, Ottimo produced a brilliant performance. Jumping well and settling fourth on the rail, race leader Easy Ahead (Hawk Wing) looked to have the taken control of the race as he slid to a four-length break at the top of the straight. However, in a great ride, Cheng rated Ottimo beautifully and got him off the rail and, with a sustained powerful finish, claimed the race leader and eased up at the post for a two-and-a-quarter length win. Five-Year-Old Zabeel gelding Vitality Express ran into second place.

The four-year-old son of Cape Cross, Ottimo is out of the Entrepreneur mare Foxette and was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $240,000 from Cambridge Stud. Owned by Amateur Association Syndicate and trained by C H Yip, Ottimo has accumulated an impressive HK$1.89 million from eight career starts. With all four of his wins coming over a distance of 1650 metres, the four-year-old has formed quite a partnership with jockey Y T Cheng who has ridden him in seven of his eight starts.

Ottimo boasts an impressive pedigree, his dam Foxette is the daughter of unraced Marscay mare Blucielo and is a half sister to Zacielo (Zabeel), a Group 2 and Group 3 winner. His third dam Dancer's Glory (Danzatore) is the daughter of the outstanding mare Taiona (Sovereign Edition). Taiona is also the dam of the six time Group 1 winner Sovereign Red (Sir Tristram) whose wins included the Victoria Derby and the Caulfield Guineas and the full brother to Sovereign Red, the dual Group 1 winner of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, Gurners Lane.

A half sister to Ottimo, by Zabeel, was sold in the 2010 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for $310,000 and another half sister by Keeper will be offered in the 2011 National Yearling Sale Series. Ottimo is also from the same family as the Encosta de Lago colt (ex Foxwood), lot 295, in the 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

The Ready to Run Sale catalogue is now online with printed catalogues available from 27 September.
The 2011 National Yearling Sale Series runs from 31 January to 7 February with catalogues available 26 November.