Sandtop (NZ) Gets Deserved Stakes Success

Topping a stellar run of success with his first stakes victory was Karaka graduate Sandtop (NZ) (Henrythenavigator) in the M$700,000 Listed Autumn Trophy (1600m) in Macau last night.

Sandtop (NZ) winner of the Listed Autumn Trophy. Photo courtesy of the MJC.

The winner of six races from 13 starts, Sandtop has won six of his last nine starts and finished second or third in the other three races. Trained by S H Cheong, he has won from 1500m to 1950m.

Commencing from barrier 6 for jockey W L Ho, Sandtop settled towards the rear of the field in the early stages. At the top of the straight, Sandtop raced through the centre of the track to range up and take the lead, racing to victory by half-a-length over Pak Lok Angel (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), to make a Karaka quinella, with Sheng Li Win (North Light) in third place.

The four-year-old gelding has earned M$1,335,100 for owner King Ho.

Sandtop was purchased at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$50,000 by PK Ho from Hallmark Stud.

The son of Henrythenavigator is out of Flawless (Zabeel), a full-sister to dual Listed winner Zabene (Zabeel) and is a half-sister to Knight’s Command (Pins), dual Sgp-3 winner. From the same family as Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting to Win (Northern Meteor), his second dam was also a Group 1 winner in the International Stakes.