Aussie Sprinter Wins First HK Stakes Race of Season

Tara Madgwick - Monday September 23

The first stakes race of the new season in Hong Kong was run at sha Tin on Sunday with the Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) won by Aussie bred Deep Field gelding The Golden Scenery.

The Golden Scenery wins the G3 Celebration Cup at Sha Tin - image HKJC

Trained by Tony Cruz, the seven year -old was given an exceptional ride by Brenton Avdulla charting a course close to the fence before sliding through a gap to challenge and then going on to claim his first Black type victory by half a length.

A two-time winner in Australia at Ipswich and Doomben racing as Dominant King, The Golden Scenery had twice been placed at Group level in Hong Kong – running third in the Celebration Cup last year.

“The Golden Scenery has always been a very honest horse and he’s always good at the start of the season and wins a race. I planned this race for a while and today the give in the ground helped,” Cruz said.

Advertisement

Purchased originally for just $4,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from the draft of G Rapisarda , The Golden Scenery is the first winner from Saga’s Gift, a metro winner by Real Saga that traces back to stakes-winning juvenile Definately Ours.

The Golden Scenery is the 36th stakes-winner for the now pensioned Deep Field, who is the reigning champion sire in Hong Kong and posted a treble at the Sha Tin meeting on Sunday with Sugar Ball and Master Mastermind also successful.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Celebration Cup Gr3 1400m

Sha Tin Track: Dead Time: 1:22.74
1
The Golden Scenery
- 7g Deep Field (AUS) x Saga's Gift (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: B Avdulla 55
2
0.5
Taj Dragon
- 6g Mehmas (IRE) x Next Trial (IRE) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: C Y Ho 61
3
2.3
Healthy Happy
- 8g Zoustar (AUS) x Lady Lakshmi (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: M Chadwick 58.5
Zoustar
4
3.3
Packing Treadmill
- 6g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x I'm An Outoftowner (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: Lyle Hewitson 55.5
5
3.5
Chiu Chow Spirit
- 5g Zoustar (AUS) x Pearl Star (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: K L Man Rdr: A Badel 53
6
3.8
Wonder Kit
- 6g Sooboog (AUS) x Ginali (AUS) (Duporth (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: A Atzeni 52.5
7
6.8
Flying Ace
- 7g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Dancescape (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D J Hall Rdr: M F Poon 59.5
More Reading...
$400,000 Hellbent Colt Sold by Riverstone Lodge
It’s often said yearling buyers drill for oil where they have found it before and that rang true when BK Racing purchased a colt by Hellbent for $400,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday February 8
Here is the full list of 73 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sanniya Wins G3 Mystic Journey Stakes for Star Thoroughbreds
Star Thoroughbreds have had a  hot run of success over the Tasmanian summer carnival and while prolific winner Durazzo had to settle for second in the Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes to Victorian raider Steparty, three year-old filly Sanniya captured the Group III Mystic Journey Stakes (1200m) in Hobart on Sunday.
$300,000 Too Darn Hot Filly to Waterhouse Bott Stable
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable have already had success this season for Kurrinda Bloodstock with brilliant 2YO filly Shiki, who won the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes and they teamed up again for another filly by her sire Too Darn Hot (GB) at Inglis Classic on Sunday.
Playing God Stakes Quinella – MM Perth Update
Western Australia’s champion sire Playing God achieved a notable career milestone on Saturday when his son Almighty Class notched up a quarter century of stakes winners for the remarkable stallion, posting a commanding victory in the Listed Cyril Flower Stakes. 
First SW for Anders – Daytona Diva Wins Listed Strutt Stakes
The $125,000 Listed Strutt Stakes (2020m) in Hobart on Sunday was expected to be won by the visiting Henry Dwyer trained filly Aurora Rise, but the favourite was no match for locally trained Anders filly Daytona Diva.
$300,000 for Zousain Half-Brother to Private Harry
Southern Highlands based farm Rheinwood Pastoral have produced and sold two Group I winners in the past 12 months in Libertad and Private Harry, whose half-brother by Zousain sold at Inglis Classic on Sunday for $300,000.
$425,000 Extreme Choice Filly Tops Inglis Classic Day 1
A filly and a colt both directly targeted at the Classic Yearling Sale to “stand out from the crowd’’ strongly rewarded their owners today as Inglis’ live sales season started on a positive note.
People At Classic - Day One Selling
Day One of Inglis Classic was a good one which made for happy sellers and Maree McEwan was out speaking to them.
Well Bred Long Shot Mare Wins G3 Hobart Cup
The $250,000 Group III Ladbrokes Hobart Cup (2400m) was the headline event on a champagne day of racing in Tasmania on Sunday and the winner was an interesting one from the breeding perspective being a 30-1 long shot mare with a commercial pedigree.