Unstoppable Solar Great (NZ) Five from Five
4 March 2013
Kiwi sire Falkirk has produced another standout performer in Hong Kong with his son Solar Great (NZ) showing all the makings of an exciting sprinter with a big win in Saturday’s HK-3 Hong Kong Macau Trophy (1400m).
Solar Great was purchased as a weanling in 2008 and his win is timely as entries for New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale close this Friday 8 March.
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Solar Great is unbeaten in five starts this season. |
The son of Falkirk (ex Harmonics) has proven unstoppable this season with Saturday’s win his fifth straight from five starts, and his performance to win the HK-3 race, his first at stakes level, was first class.
A change of rider in Saturday’s race saw Brett Prebble replaced by Douglas Whyte, with Whyte racing him back in the field after drawing wide and using the five-year-old’s huge turn of foot to bring him through the field and race to victory by a neck.
“It’s pretty surreal to win. It’s always tough to win five in a row and especially in Hong Kong as it’s a lot harder to do,” said Solar Great’s trainer David Hall.
“Getting to this level, obviously the hurdles get higher every time so I’m pretty proud of what the horse has done.”
The win has taken Solar Great’s rating from just 54 at the start of the season to 93 after Saturday’s effort and, given Saturday’s performance, he will be one to watch as he continues to climb through the grades in Hong Kong.
Solar Great is the fourth stakes winner for his sire Falkirk who is no stranger to Hong Kong stakes success as his son, the Karaka graduate Fay Fay, won the HK-1 Hong Kong Derby last season.
Solar Great had one winning trial in New Zealand for his trainer Martin Cleland before being taken to Hong Kong. He is now raced by Hui Sze Man and has won six of his 14 starts for over NZ$640,000.
Bred and sold by Kristine Stead, Solar Great was purchased by Sir James Lodge from New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2008 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale for $18,000.
NZB’s 2013 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale will offer weanlings, yearlings, two-year-olds, raced and unraced horses, broodmares and stallion shares. To enter your horse please contact NZB on 09 298 0055. Entries close this Friday 8 March.