Cover image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Purton to miss four weeks
In race nine on the Sha Tin card, Legend St Paul’s (NZ) (Tivaci) went amiss causing a terrible three horse fall with jockeys Zac Purton, Angus Chung, and Keith Leung all involved. All three were taken to hospital for assessment, with Chung reported to have bruising to his face and upper body, Leung has a bruised upper thigh, and Purton came off worst with a swollen ankle and broken left toe.
“It’s heartbreaking. I’ll miss Ka Ying (Rising), I’ll miss Galaxy Patch, I’ll miss Packing Angel. Hopefully I can get back for the Derby,” Purton told scmp.com.
“It’s heartbreaking. I’ll miss Ka Ying (Rising), I’ll miss Galaxy Patch, I’ll miss Packing Angel. Hopefully I can get back for the Derby.” - Zac Purton
“The toe is broken and it needs to be realigned. They’re trying to work out whether they’re going to put in screws and a plate, or pin it. I’ve also damaged ligaments in the same ankle, and the ankle is obviously very swollen. I haven’t really had a chance to put any weight on it yet, so we’ll see how that goes. It’s obviously disappointing but it couldn’t have been worse than what it was.”
Karis Teetan is slated to replace Purton on the speedster Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, while replacements for Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) in the G1 Gold Cup and Packing Angel (NZ) (Shocking) in the Classic Cup have yet to be announced.
The stewards report noted that both Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and Silvery Breeze (Dundeel {NZ}) had blood on their nostrils, and an endoscopic examination on both horses found no blood in the trachea, so it was ruled an external injury. No other injuries were reported for those two horses. Legend St Paul’s was euthanised and sent for further testing.
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Earlier on the card, Vincent Ho was transferred to hospital after falling from Oldtown (NZ) (Territories {Ire}) in race six, and is reported to have possible fractures to his neck and shoulder region. The stewards reported, “A veterinary inspection (on Oldtown) immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.”
Californiatotality on song for the Derby
Trainer Tony Cruz thinks 4-year-old gelding Californiatotality (Zoustar) is perfectly placed for the Hong Kong Derby after winning on Sunday night at Sha Tin. “We’ll see what his rating goes to, but hopefully I can run him in the Classic Cup,” Cruz told scmp.com.
“He’s aiming for that race, that’s for sure. Then from there hopefully it’s the Derby, too. He’s crying out for 2000 metres and he’s an improving horse. He’s very honest. The 1800 metres might actually be on the short side for him. I really think he’s a good 2000 metres and above horse. I’m happy with his win today.”
Pray For Mir (Justify {USA}), who is also headed the Derby, led the race and Californiatotality tracked him, wearing him down for the win, while the favourite Silvery Breeze (Dundeel {USA}) was cruising before being caught up in the bad fall.
Sold by Segenhoe Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $900,000 to Asian Bloodstock Services, Californiatotality has done all his racing in Hong Kong and now has five wins from 16 starts with earnings over HK$5.29 million (AU$1 million).
Californiatotality winning Sha Tin TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine 3 Hcp | Image courtesy of The Hongkong Jockey Club
A half-brother to Listed Woodland Stakes victress Pretty In Pink (Sebring), dam of G3 Canonbury Stakes-placed 2-year-old colt Hillier (Zoustar), Californiatotality’s dam Total Attraction (Nadeem) was a good racemare, winning three races and placing twice at Group 2 level. Her current 3-year-old colt Yoshinobu (Written Tycoon) has won twice this season and placed in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes. She has an unnamed yearling colt by Street Boss (USA), who is Lot 230 at the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and she has a 2024 filly by Home Affairs.
La Forza overcomes trackwork incident to win
A day after 3-year-old gelding La Forza (Toronado {Ire}) spooked during trackwork, dumped his rider and did an extra lap, he came out at Sha Tin and won. “It was just unfortunate that he shied basically at the TV screen. But he didn’t go too fast when he did a little quiet lap without the rider on, and thankfully everything’s gone nice and smoothly for him today,” said trainer Jamie Richards.
Second at the trials in New Zealand as an October 2-year-old, La Forza was exported to Hong Kong where he had three starts at two, rare for Hong Kong, for a win in May. This was his first start at three. “He’s a horse who was very immature last season and we backed off him. We thought we had him ready to go earlier in the season, and we just had to back off him again because he was just a little bit shin sore,” said Richards.
“He was very weak last season, but he’s put on a lot of weight and strengthened up. I’ve got a good team of staff and the Conghua stable must take a bit of credit for this horse because he’s spent most of his time up there. He’s only a 3-year-old, but I’m hoping that he’s got more ratings points in hand.”
Sold by Rushton Park at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale for $200,000 to Bahen Bloodstock, he was re-offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where his trainer along with Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased him for $310,000. Toronado (Ire) is highly respected in Hong Kong thanks to Group 1 winner Victor The Winner, as well as stakes winners Senor Toba, Helios Express, and I Am The Boss.
La Forza winning the Sha Tin TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Hcp | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
La Forza is the third foal, and second winner, for winning mare Minetti (Star Witness) who is a daughter of G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner La Italia (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), making Minetti a half-sister to Ridolfi (Fastnet Rock), the dam of Listed winner Better Get Set (Better Than Ready).
Golden Sixty arrives in Japan
Retired Hong Kong Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) has arrived in Japan where he will live out his days at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido. The 10-time Group 1 winner had to quarantine in Australia prior to heading to Japan. The location allows owner Stanley Chan, trainer Francis Lui and jockey Vincent Ho to visit him regularly.
