By Alan Carasso
While the vast majority of the racing in Hong Kong takes place over the Sha Tin turf, the small jurisdiction has produced an impressive number of horses that have performed at a high level on the dirt as well. Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) broke new ground when taking out the 2014 GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship and added this year's G3 Al Shindagha Sprint in addition to multiple placings in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) earned his way into this year's G1 Dubai World Cup with a runner-up effort in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge. Both of the aforementioned were penciled in for Korea before being withdrawn, but Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap) represented the Bauhinia with distinction Sunday afternoon.
Himself second to Secret Circle (Eddington) in the 2015 Golden Shaheen, Super Jockey lost a shoe when fifth this past March and was well beaten behind Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) when last seen in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in May.
Let go at a surprising 15-2 despite his decent main track form, Super Jockey jumped alertly and settled in second position early as Perdido Pomeroy (Pomeroy) sped across to head off his rivals. Guided into the two path and into the clear by Karis Teetan, Super Jockey looked to be doing the far better work of the duo, surged into a clear lead in upper stretch and was well in hand for the final 50 metres. Macheon Bolt (Kor) (Old Fashioned) and Japan's Grape Brandy (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) rallied belatedly to fill the minors. Wild Dude (Wildcat Heir), favored at even money, never reached contention and finished ninth.
The victory was a long time in the making, explained winning trainer Tony Millard.
“Going into this sprint a lot of things went right and we had a good feeling about it,” said the South African. “The team worked really well because we had to prepare the horse in the off-season, which is not easy, especially as he's a horse that doesn't sweat–that's quite a big call in Hong Kong's summer humidity. He runs very well fresh, we know that, and I was very happy with his preparation coming into this. It was great, I didn't actually expect him to win that well but he's a high-class horse.”
The winner, out of a half-sister to New Zealand Group 1 winner Critic (NZ) (Centaine {Aus}) and from the family of champion and G1 Cox Plate winner Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), is kin to a yearling colt by Pentire (GB).
Click for the Korean Racing Association chart (R8). VIDEO.
Sunday, Seoul, South Korea
KEENELAND KOREA SPRINT, K¥700,000,000 (US$637,704/£479,421/€566,877/A$834,016), 3yo/up, 1200m, 1:11.40, gd.
1–#SUPER JOCKEY (NZ), 123, g, 8, Sandtrap–Pennies In Heaven (NZ), by Pompeii Court. O-Tony & Thomas Lau; B-C D Harvey, D C Maclean & T H Morri; T-Tony Millard; J-Karis Teetan; K¥392,000,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-UAE, MSP-HK, 23-5-7-2. *1/2 to Single Currency (NZ) (Bachelor Duke), SW-NZ.
2–Macheon Bolt (Kor), 123, g, 4, Old Fashioned–Beech Bag, by Devil's Bag. ($5,000 i/u '12 KEEJAN). O-Won Sun Park. K¥147,000,000.
3–Grape Brandy (Jpn), 123, h, 8, Manhattan Cafe (Jpn)–Wine and Rose (Jpn), by Judge Angelucci. O-Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd. K¥98,000,000.
Margins: 4, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 7.50, 56.10, 11.40.
Also Ran: Perdido Pomeroy, Million Volts, Supreme Magic, Ottug Ottugi (Kor), Super Winner (Aus), Wild Dude, Gamdonguibada, Bichui Jeongsang, Gabo Myeongun, Choegang Schiller, Beachy Head (Ire), Art Wave (Ire), First Magical.
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