The Hong Kong racing season kicked off at Sha Tin on Sunday with some exciting Aussie breds including a promising debut winner by Star Witness and a former Queensland trained sprinter destined for the top.
Now in the care of David Hayes after starting his career with Steve Tregea in Queensland, five year-old Warhead gelding Naboo Attack won five of seven starts in Australia when racing as Command ‘n’ Conquer.
He won his first HK start for Hayes on May 30 and looked good in his seasonal return racing to a length win in the HKSAR chief Executive’s Cup over 1200m in Class 1 company.
“It’s a big thrill. I didn’t manage to win one (a feature) last season, so it was good to be on the track getting a trophy,” Hayes said.
“Depending on handicapping, I think he’ll still be under 100, so we’ll probably give him one more sprint in about a months’ time and then after that we’ll look to run in the big races.
“I reckon he’ll get to a mile but if he’s winning at the sprint trips, I’ll just keep him fresh. His two fresh runs have been brilliant. We might try stretching him out after December – (but the Hong Kong Sprint) would be the early target race. "
He is a half-brother to stakes-placed Conquering Lass from Commanding Queen, an unraced Commands grand-daughter of stakes-winner Asawir, a daughter of celebrated matriarch Easy Date.
This branch of the family has produced Group I winners Rewaaya, Sense of Occasion and Ertijaal.
David Hayes also has a high opinion of Star Witness four year-old Nervous Witness, who kicked off his career with a three length debut victory over 1000m under Zac Purton.
Sporting the same colours as famed by Hong Kong world champion sprinter Silent Witness, Nervous Witness clocked a slick 55.71s without being asked to extend.
Hayes labelled Nervous Witness as “the most impressive debut I’ve had since I’ve been back in Hong Kong.”
“That was pretty easy as you like. Apart from his trial he’s never been let go, so that’s what is so exciting about the horse – he hasn’t been drilled down for the race. You don’t see Zac Purton look around that many times do you,” Hayes said.
“I could have run him last season and I just thought he would be better as a second-season horse with a trial and then a back off then a build-up. He’ll go through the classes pretty quickly I think, I expect him to win a few in a row.”
Purton was also full of praise for Nervous Witness.
“As far as first starters go, for the good ones, that’s what you expect them to do, right?” Purton said.
“It was just a matter of seeing how he would handle race day. He was a little bit on edge in the parade. He’s got a little bit to learn. He’s obviously blessed with natural ability, he moves well. He was strong through the line so he’s an exciting horse going forward.”
A $110,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Southern Cross Breeders draft, Nervous Witness is the second winner from Hadiklaim, a metro winner by War Pass (USA) that goes back to a US Black Type family.
Deep Field has become a popular sire in Hong Kong and was on the board at the first meeting back with the Tony Cruz trained Californiadeepshot scoring a two length win over 1400m as favourite.
Californiadeepshot won two races in Australia for Peter and Paul Snowden before switching to Hong Kong and has been a very consistent performer with the overall record of five wins and seven placings from 19 starts.
A $260,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Asian Bloodstock Services from the Coolmore draft, Californiadeepshot runs for Hong Kong based owner Chloe Liang and is a half-brother to Group I placed Reemah from former brilliant Group II winning Testa Rossa mare Vormista.
Click here to see all the Sha tin results from Sunday.
