Purple Patch in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the most competitive racing environments in the world, and over the last couple of months New Zealand-breds and Karaka graduates have shone brightly on that great stage.

Since the beginning of March, a total of 111 races have been held at Hong Kong’s two racecourses – Sha Tin and Happy Valley. New Zealand-breds have won 36 of them, a spectacular winning percentage of 32.43%, and recorded another 67 second or third placings.

The clear highlight of this period was the HK$18 million Group 1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), in which Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) scored a hard-fought win over Victory Magic (NZ) (Savabeel). They were the only two New Zealand-breds in the field for the prestigious classic and both trained by legendary trainer John Moore.

Many of the recent winners have been Karaka graduates whose success on the lucrative Hong Kong racing scene has given their owners a wonderful return on their investment.

One Of A Kind (NZ) (Keeper), who won at Happy Valley on March 2, was purchased for $100,000 at the 2010 Premier Sale. He has won more than HK$3 million, which is more than NZ$580,000.

A few days later at Sha Tin, Momentum Lucky (NZ) (Commands) scored the second win of his career. A $140,000 purchase at the 2014 Premier Sale, he has already earned more than twice his purchase price. Later the same day, Jolly Jolly (NZ) (Stratum) was successful and lifted his earnings to HK$2.68 million (NZ$502,000). He was bought for $150,000 at the 2013 Premier Sale.

Forever Fun (NZ) (Elusive City) cost just $12,000 at the 2011 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale. He was later pinhooked for $46,000 at the Select Sale and $80,000 at the Ready To Run Sale. After winning at Happy Valley on March 9, he has earned HK$932,600 (NZ$174,400) for owner Chan Yuk Fai.

Another recent winner, Happy Cooperation (NZ) (Elusive City), cost $15,000 at the Festival Sale and has earned more than ten times that amount – a great return on investment for owner Lee Yiu Shing.

Sempiternal (NZ) (Postponed) has turned his $20,000 price tag at the 2011 Select Sale into a bankroll of HK$2.65 million (NZ$496,000) for owners Sherman Ting Wing Cheung and Joyce Ting Tung Sum.

Precision King (NZ) (Towkay) was a $60,000 purchased by Baker Racing at the 2010 Select Sale and has earned HK$5.6 million, meaning his recent victory at Sha Tin took his earnings past the NZ$1 million barrier.

Bloodstock agent Phil Cataldo purchased Mastercraftsman gelding Happilababy (NZ) at the 2013 Select Sale for $28,000 and has earned HK$1.52 million (NZ$284,800) for the Win Now syndicate.

New Zealand-influenced success in Hong Kong in recent times hasn’t been limited to horses. We were also delighted to watch the Sha Tin meeting last Sunday, where the highly popular apprentice jockey Kei Chiong rode four winners. Chiong, who won 45 races in three seasons with Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock, became the first female jockey in history to win four races in a day in Hong Kong. Two of her winners were New Zealand-breds and Karaka graduates – Friends Forever (NZ) (Alamosa) and McQueen (NZ) (Alamosa).