Princess Coup Claims NZB 2YO Handicap

Inclement weather saw just four runners greet the starter for The New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Manawatu on Saturday. Despite the small field, a thrilling race ensued, with the Mark Walker trained Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago x Stonyfell) downing favourite Tiger Magic ( Sandtrap x Modern Magic) in a tight finish.

Beaten for early speed, Princess Coup knuckled down over the concluding stages to overhaul Tiger Magic, with the John Wheeler trained Egmont Lass (Fuji Kiseki x Simply Aloof) finishing two lengths away in third. Princess Coup was having just her second start and is raced by prominent owners, John Bromley and Ray Coupland.

Princess Coup was ridden by Andrew Calder who replaced Michael Walker, stood down with a broken thumb after a fall in the first race. To add to the dramas on course, a fire alarm caused the grandstands to be evacuated prior to the event, while rider Grant Cooksley failed to arrive in time to partner Tiger Magic, who was subsequently partnered by Kelly Myers.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong on Saturday, New Zealand breds accounted for 50 per cent of winners, claiming five of the ten races at Sha Tin.

Members Glory (Deputy Governor x Miss Tris), took off early to outstay his rivals in the Class 4 Shek Lei Handicap (2000m), prevailing by 2 lengths. The son of Deputy Governor was purchased from the 2000 Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$ 32,500 by Cambridge couple, Alan and Linda Jones.

Third home was Brown Beauty (Shinko King x Jeanne D'Arc), purchased by bloodstock agent, Paul Willets at the 2001 Festival Select Sale for NZ$9,500.

In race five, the Class 4 Lai Yiu Handicap (1400m), the former Tim Carter trained galloper, Liverbird (Zerpour x Sarah Fox), produced his first win in Hong Kong for trainer Danny Shum. Runner up, Super Ball (Kashani x So Soon) took the shortest way to the post, along the fence. Bred by Highview Stud and Brian Hall, Super Ball was offered for sale at the 2002 Ready to Run Sale.

Paul O'Sullivan teamed up with Chris Munce in the sixth event, successful with Dansolde (Danasinga x Tisolde) in the Class 4 Lei Muk Shue Handicap (1600m). After racing back in the field early in the running, Dansolde overcame a check to down fellow New Zealand breds, Lucky Money (Marju x Kappadios) and All Chances (Pins x Gaysutina).

Dansolde was offered for sale by Waikato Stud at the 2003 Premier Sale, while Lucky Money was purchased for NZ$50,000 from Brookby Heights at the 2002 National Weanling Sale by Art-Muller Enterprises of Hong Kong. At the up-coming Festival Yearling Sale, Berkley Stud will offer a half sister to Lucky Money by Diamond Dane.

Third place-getter, All Chances, is a graduate of the Little Avondale Stud draft at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sale where he was sold to Gary Hennessey for NZ$80,000.

Time Supreme (O'Reilly x Brilliant Victory) relished the step up in distance to claim the Class 3 Kwai Fong Handicap (1800m). The son of O'Reilly had previously been untried beyond a mile, and continued his good form for his third win in his eight career starts.

Time Supreme was a profitable pin-hook from the 2003 Select Yearling Sale, resold at that year's Ready to Run Sale. Originally purchased by Chris Hausman from Oughterad Farm's draft for NZ$12,500 he then went on to be sold under Hausman's Mission Lodge banner for NZ$105,000 to Michael Stedman Bloodstock.

Romantic Winner (Bijou D'Inde x Neutron Dancer) easily accounted for his opposition in taking out the ninth event, the Class 3 Rotary Centenary Challenge Cup (1400m). The four-year-old gelding has been successful in 3 of 4 starts in Hong Kong to date and bolstered trainer David Hall's tally to 10 winners for the season.

Romantic Winner was purchased at the 2003 Select Yearling Sale by Stoneybridge Farm for NZ$17,000 from Hunters Thoroughbreds and was bred by David and Elizabeth Robinson.

Singapore

New Zealand breds took out the two feature events on a low key night in Singapore on Friday.

New Zealand bred, Casablanca (Woodborough x Miss Citidel) won the first race on the card, the Open Benchmark 40 over 1200 metres. Raffles Farm sold the chestnut gelding at the 2003 Ready to Run Sale to Singapore trainer Dr Yeoh Kheng Chye for NZ$30,000.

2002 pin-hooked yearling, Sunshine Touch (Felix The Cat x Kitty Ping) came in second. Entered under Mission Lodge's draft in the 2006 Select Yearling Sale is a half brother by Curraghmore Stud's shuttle stallion Dagger's Drawn.

Fellow NZ bred, Venus Fly Trap (Sandtrap x Feisty Flower) rounded off the placings for ex-pat trainer Laurie Laxon.

In the Open Benchmark 67 race over 2000 metres, Equator (I Conquer x Shahnaaz) was successful for the Effect Stable. He was purchased by Te Puke's Del Roberts for NZ$10,000 at the 2002 Select Sale from Shaman Lodge. At the upcoming Select Yearling Sale, a brother by Black Tuxedo will be offered for sale on Account of R H Khan.

Big Occasion (Mellifont x Repremend) was third keeping his race record as being unplaced only once in his six starts in Singapore. Big Occasion was sold by Poplar Lodge at the 2003 Festival Yearling Sale for NZ$15,000 and is another Laxon trained NZ bred. The son of Mellifont is a half brother to the Katrina Alexander trained Sydney Cup winner, Honor Babe. A half sister to Honor Babe and Big Occasion will be offered through the draft of Windsor Park Stud at next year's Premier Yearling Sale. The filly is by exciting first season sire, Golan, a winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.