Waikuku

When the first horse Shane Molan bred in his own name turned out to be the multiple Group 1-winning star Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), he didn't dream the achievement would ever be topped.  But Waikuku's dam London Plane (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who Molan famously bought for just €13,500 from Hyde Park Stud at the Goffs February Sale back in 2013, has proved herself to be anything but a one-hit wonder.  Nor is the 37-year-old breeder who operates from the family base in Limerick at Riversfield Stud, which was...

Hong Kong's 4-year-old Classic series concludes with the running of the HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, and while no one will confuse any of the 14 runners signed on for Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who became the second to sweep the series in 2020, or last year's winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who has gone on to multiple Group 1 victories in unrestricted company, it is a race that--in theory--is wide open. Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) was...

Having suffered a shock defeat when last seen in the G1 Stewards' Cup--his first in over 30 months--Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) will have atonement on his mind when he goes in search of back-to-back victories in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000mT) Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. There was plenty to play for in the Stewards', as Golden Sixty had taken his winning streak to 16 with a second consecutive success in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December and had the chance to draw...

The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic dictated that there would be no one on hand Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse to 'witness' the running of the G1 Stewards' Cup. But there was a collective 'silence' right round the world when Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) crossed the wire three-parts of a length to the good of the virtually unbeatable Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro), who saw his attempt to equal the winning streak of Silent Witness (Aus) go by the wayside while tasting defeat for just the second time...

Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), winners of the BMW Hong Kong Derby in 2020 and 2019, respectively, treated racing fans to an epic final-furlong battle in Sunday's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, with the undisputed current king of the hill in the jurisdiction just clawing his way past Furore to take his current winning streak to 13 and his overall record to a spectacular 16 from 17. Golden Sixty is now within four victories of the record currently held by the legendary Silent Witness...

Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), recent winner of the G2 Jockey Club Sprint, and his John Size stablemate Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) signaled their readiness for the Dec. 13 Longines Hong Kong International Races with victorious barrier trials at Sha Tin Dec. 4. Waikuku, runner-up to the re-opposing Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Ire}) in last year's G1 Hong Kong Mile and a latest third in the G1 FWD Champions Mile in April, came with a wide run from far back on the turn and kept on well...

FWD Champions Day at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse is annually a miniature version of December's Longines Hong Kong International Races, with three Group 1 races offering prize money of HK$63 million (£6.6 million/US$8.1 million) and only a top-level race over 2400 metres missing from the mix. At least some of the buzz about this year's event has been dashed owing to the coronavirus pandemic, which has rendered Champions Day a wholly domestic raceday, but the beat goes on, with the vast majority of the jurisdiction's top gallopers set to...

Aethero (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), narrowly beaten into third as the $1.50 (1-2) favourite when last seen in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 8, makes his return to action in Sunday's G2 Sprint Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse. The hulking chestnut was perfect and untouched in three runs last season, but stubbed his toe when a keen third in his Class 2 debut over 1200m last October. He clocked :54.69 when taking out a five-furlong test 11 days later and walloped the jurisdictions best short-trackers in the G2 Jockey...

Recognising breeders' achievements, the Mare of the Moment is run in association with the Irish National Stud. The owner of the mare will receive a personalised headcollar. This month's prize goes to London Plane (Ire), the dam of G1 Stewards' Cup winner Waikuku (Ire). Competitive black-type action continues in Hong Kong throughout the winter with plenty of expatriate horses to the fore. The G1 Stewards' Cup on Jan. 19 was won by the former John Oxx-trained Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). The 5-year-old, who is now in the stable of...

by Alan Carasso Hammered into $1.50 (2-1 on) favouritism to assume the mantle of Hong Kong's top miler, Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) was given a ride full of finesse from jockey Joao Moreira and raced over the top of two-time defending Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the dying strides for a maiden Group 1 success in Sunday's Stewards' Cup at Sha Tin. But while there very well may be a new sheriff in town, the deposed king of the hill showed that...

Top-level racing returns to Hong Kong Sunday afternoon with the G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m) and the G1 Centenary Sprint Prize (1200m) and trainer John Size and jockey Joao Moreira look to have strong claims in both of the HK$10-million events. The travails of two-time defending Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) have been well-documented and the 7-year-old is looking to snap a three-race skid that includes latest third to Japan's Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 8....