NZ breds dominate in Hong Kong

NZ breds dominate in Hong Kong

NZ Racing Desk

8 April 2019

Goko was one of five New Zealand-bred winners at Sha Tin on Sunday Photo: HKJC

New Zealand-bred gallopers have once again dominated Sunday’s Sha Tin programme, winning five of the ten races, including both of the day’s features.

Road To Rock’s son Beauty Generation notched his eighth successive victory when he led all the way to take out the Gr.2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m).

Bred by Greg Tomlinson’s Nearco Stud, Beauty Generation is a graduate of the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale series where he was sold by Highden Park for $60,000 to the bid of Kylie Bax’ Hermes Sydnicate.

The highest-rated miler in the world, Beauty will now target the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at the end of the month.

A trio of New Zealand Bloodstock sale graduates dominated the finish of Sunday’s Gr.2 Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.

Savabeel gelding Rattan produced a powerful late dash to spring a minor upset when he downed Beat The Clock and Mr Stunning in a thrilling three-way finish.

Bred and raised at Mapperley Stud, Rattan is a graduate from their draft at the 2015 National Yearling Sale where he was knocked down to the bid of local bloodstock agent Bruce Perry for $150,000 before finding his way to Hong Kong.

The victory completed a remarkable weekend for Mapperley Stud who also had Gr.1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) winner Brutal, a son of O’Reilly, sell for $220,000 from their 2017 Karaka Premier session.

Earlier on the program talented Dennis Yip-trained galloper Goko landed the fourth race of his career.

A son of O’Reilly, Goko was sold by Bruce and Maureen Harvey’s Ascot Farm at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where he fetched $525,000, and like Beauty Generation he was bred by Nearco Stud.

Win Win broke through for his maiden win for Benno Yung after a string of placings. The son of Casino Prince was bred by Waikato Stud’s vet, Dr Chris Philips.

Meanwhile, War Lord, a son of Sweet Orange, won on debut for John Size. A trial winner for Roydon Bergerson, War Lord was bred by Kelvin McGrail and Pania Hudson of Feilding.