Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
John Size looks to have himself a viable Hong Kong International Race Day contender in the shape of Sunday's G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse H. winner Ensued (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}).
A horse who had already proven himself capable at stakes company with a Listed Hong Kong Classic Cup third last season, the 4-year-old has won four of his nine Hong Kong starts.
Hitting the lead with 200 metres to go, Ensued put 0.75l on his rivals, earning himself a place in one of the majors though Size was guarded in regards to his chances.
“He has not got much in the way of options because he is stayer and the fact that his rating is going to go a bit higher,” he told the HKJC.
“He will have to run in one of those races (he is nominated for the G1 Hong Kong Cup over 2000 metres and the G1 Hong Kong Vase over 2400 metres) and hope he can grab some prizemoney.
“He had the race run perfectly to suit him today, it looked set up beautifully for him approaching the turn and luckily he was in the position to take advantage of that, he had all the luck.”
“He (Ensued) had the race run perfectly to suit him today, it looked set up beautifully for him approaching the turn and luckily he was in the position to take advantage of that...” - John Size
It was the fourth win for the season for Size who note that he never charges out of the gates.
Slowly away
“As everyone is aware, I am a little bit slow to get away because I like my horses to have a break, therefore they are slower coming into form. This is a great result for us today and hopefully we can start our season and improve on that.”
John Size | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
It was a second win in this feature for jockey Karis Teetan who rides Mostly Cloudy (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) in the G1 Melbourne Cup and he declared himself “happy to win this race again.
“It's always good to get those big races, it's such a big day and it's nice to ride for Mr Size; I am really grateful for the support.”
A US$120,000 (AU$182,908) 2021 Keeneland September Yearling, Ensued was reoffered at the 2022 Arqana Deauville May 2-Year-Old Breeze Up where he was purchased by Sackville Donald for €260,000 (AU$429,000).
Ensued as a 2-year-old | Image courtesy of Arqana
The 109th stakes winner for his G1 Belmont S.-winning sire, he shares the same grandam, the dual Listed winner Sneaky Quiet (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}) as the G3 Tibbie S. winner Spirit Bird (NZ) (Savabeel).
Winners for Hall and Newnham
Two other Australian trainers had winners on the card, David Hall and Mark Newnham.
It was a second nice win in a row for Geneva (Capitalist) (both times ridden by Hugh Bowman) who is having his second Hong Kong campaign having been in the placings at each of his first four starts during his first.
Bred in New South Wales by JS Mackay, he was placed in a Horsham jump-out (under the name of Capit) before making his way to Hong Kong. He was a $250,000 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale purchase in 2021, passed in at Inglis Easter, sold for $155,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale and again for $625,000 to his current owners (through John Foote Bloodstock) at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
He is out of the Group 3-placed multiple city winner Sebrina (Sebring) whose dam is the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. winner Crown Princess (Beautiful Crown {USA}). Sebrina foaled a full sister to Geneva in mid-October.
Mark Newnham's winner with Luke Ferraris aboard was My Wish (Flying Artie) who had broken through the barriers before the start, fortunately quickly restrained, inspected by vets and allowed to start.
My Wish | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Fair to say we deserved that!” Ferraris laughed, adding that “we've got to work on his barrier manners a bit. He can be a difficult customer but he's got the ability and he showed it today.
“Well done to Mark and his whole team,” he continued, “he is going from strength to strength.”
Bred in New South Wales by J Langridge, My Wish went to Hong Kong off a trial win at Beaumont Newcastle in September last year. He has had only five starts, winning two of his last three.
He is the first foal for the Tuncurry maiden winner Set The Tone (Reset) who foaled a full brother to him last month. She hails from the same family as the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Headway (Charge Forward).
An overdue win
It was an overdue win at his 12th start for Kingly Demeanor (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who has Australian ties, his dam being the G2 Matriarch S. and Listed Werribee Cup winner Brom Felinity (Encosta De Lago) whose son Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) won the G1 Woodbine Canadian International S. as well as a Group 2 contest in Dubai.
A horse who went through the sales ring on three occasions, Kingly Demeanor was a 34,000 gns (AU$75,200) purchase at the 2020 Tattersalls December Foals Sale, 255,000 gns (AU$526,800) buy for the HKJC at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale; the club selling him at their 2023 International Sale for HK$3,800,000 (AU$744,100).
It was a third Hong Kong success for Master Of All (Charm Spirit {Ire}), an Emirates Park bred 5-year-old whose dam is a winning half-sister to the G1 Epsom H. winner Fat Al (Al Maher) out of a winning daughter of the dual Group winner Fatoon (Snaadee {USA}).
A Warwick Farm trial winner under the name of Falex, he had a half-brother by Tassort born in mid-September.
“Master Of All is a lovely horse, he tries his best the whole time and he deserved to win," his rider reported.
Australian-bred gallopers in form
The card was dominated by Australian-bred horses, the other winners being Californiatotality (Zoustar), Sugar Ball (Deep Field), Flying Luck (Written Tycoon) and Glory Elite (Russian Revolution).
Bred by Segenhoe Stud, Californiatotality has won three races in Hong Kong. A $900,000 graduate of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, he is a half-brother to the Listed Woodlands S. winner Pretty In Pink (Sebring) and the Group 2-placed 3-year-old (a runner in Saturday's G1 Coolmore Stud S.) Yoshinobu (Written Tycoon) out of the Group 2-placed Total Attraction (Nadeem) from the family of Fields Of Omagh (Rubiton).
Segenhoe's Peter O'Brien is not surprised to see Californiatotality fare so well, noting that “he was a stand-out colt from day one, all quality with a beautiful action.”
Bred in South Australia by M.A Crawford, Sugar Ball was a $150,000 Inglis Classic yearling who, racing as Irish Crickets, easily won a Sandown maiden for the Matt Laurie stable in March last year.
He is out of the stakes placed five time winner Miss Vinnoire (Blackfriars) from the family of Imposing.
Having just his fourth Hong Kong start and recording his first win, Flying Luck was bred in Victoria by Noorilim Park Thoroughbreds. Selling at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $90,000, he made $150,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and $380,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale.
He is a half-brother to this spring's G1 Memsie S. winner Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) out of the city-placed winner Snitzel Blitz (Snitzel).
A three-time Hong Kong winner (from his last five starts), Glory Elite was bred in New South Wales by D Wallace and sold for $150,000 at the Inglis Classic and for $200,000 at the Inglis Ready To Race.
He is out of a daughter of the dual Listed winner Dowager Queen (NZ) (Savabeel) who foaled a filly by The Autumn Sun in early September.
Bred by Widden Stud, Steps Ahead is a $140,000 Inglis Classic graduate who was placed at his first three Hong Kong starts before winning his last two. Named Smashed Ernest in Australia, he won a Gawler trial in September last year.
His dam Avocado (Snitzel) has produced the Group 2-placed El Morzillo (Star Witness) and she is a full sister to the Listed Starlight S. winner Spending To Win out of a daughter of the imported Group 2 mare Madame Trop Vite (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). She foaled a Sejardan filly in mid-October.
