Russian Pearl Breaks HK Record

New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sales graduate, Russian Pearl (Soviet Star x Velinda) wowed audiences at Sha Tin when he won his first start in Hong Kong in record time.

The Tony Cruz trained gelding settled back in the Class 1 Ladies' Purse, an 1800 metre event worth HK$1,600,000 and a masterly ride by Felix Coetzee brought him through the field and into the open at the three hundred metres mark. The only challenge in the last one hundred metres came from a fast finishing Agility who was unable to catch the New Zealand bred.

Russian Pearl was sold at the 2002 Premier Sale by Java Lodge who stood his sire, Soviet Star, in 1999 and 2000. Prominent NZ bloodstock agent Stuart Hale purchased him for $37,500.

Earlier in the day another New Zealand Bloodstock sales graduate, Split Seconds (Star Way x Jahdu) helped the Cruz / Coetzee combination to Class 3 victory. The horse was sold at the 2001 Select Colts Sale by Mapperley Stud to Graeme Rogerson for $105,000.

Other winning New Zealand Bloodstock graduates at Sha Tin yesterday included Peach Blossom (Centaine x Bali Hi), who was sold by Waikato Stud for $37,500 at the 2002 Select Sale and Fashion Jewelery (Entrepreneur x All Night Party) a 2002 Premier Sale graduate sold by Windsor Park Stud for $31,000.