Classy Pierro stayer Furore won the 2019 Hong Kong Derby and is back in top form landing the HK$4.5 million G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Furore ended a 19 month winless streak last start, in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies Purse Handicap (1800m), when he overhauled his five-time G1 winning stablemate and on Sunday he repeated the dose – once again as second favourite to Exultant.
This clash however, is the pair’s final for the calendar year and it served as a preview of the strong hand that their trainer Tony Cruz holds ahead of December’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, as the handler confirmed his duo’s respective targets at Sha Tin’s HK$95 million showcase.
“I’m glad they’re not in the same race – Exultant will be in the Vase and Furore will be in the Cup,” Cruz confirmed, “we’ll go straight into the International Races with them – we are ready.”
Furore contests a second G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) after finishing fourth last year while Exultant bids to recapture the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) crown he won in 2018 before finishing third last year.
“He travelled very kind, he had the cover that we were hoping for and the pace was quite genuine and when I gave him a clear run, they started to come back and he just kept running and showing his quality,” said winning rider Joao Moreira.
“He ran away to win very impressively and easy – I can say that he crossed the finish line with plenty left in himself, it gets me so excited for the big day in December.”
Bought for $210,000 at the 2016 NZB Premier Sale from the Haunui Farm draft by Australian Bloodstock/ Lees Racing, Furore began his career in Australia for the Kris Lees stable, where he won four of his six starts and was third in the Group I ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Furore now has the overall record of eight wins and six placings from 25 starts.
Bred by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, Furore is a half-brother to Hong Kong Group III winner Blizzard and is from Stormy Choice, a three-quarter-sister by Redoute’s Choice to Group I winner Danestorm.
Stormy Choice has had no luck at stud in recent years losing her last two foals after birth.
Furore is one of 24 stakes-winners for Pierro, who stands at Coolmore at a fee of $137,500.
