D B Pin, Doleuze Break Through in Centenary Sprint Cup

Journeyman jockey Olivier Doleuze registered his first international Group 1 since Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) won the 2014 GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship when guiding the progressive D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) to a defeat of his dead-heating John Size stable companions Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin.

“It means a lot to me, if you had told me I would win a Group 1 this year when it is so hard to stay on a horse in a Class 5, I wouldn't have believed you!” Doleuze told Andrew Hawkins of the HKJC. “Hong Kong is very competitive, I've been here a long time and people here like new faces. That's just the game, there are no hard feelings. I've had my time, but I still enjoy it, and when you get the chance to sit on a horse like this it makes it all worthwhile.”

Drawn widest in a classy field of eight, D B Pin, runner-up to Mr Stunning when last seen in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 10, settled three deep without cover in the second half of the field as last year's winner Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) cut out the fractions while kept close company by G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Mr Stunning and Blizzard (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}). Quietly handled while unable to get in on the circle, D B Pin was wound up at the top of the lane, but it was Mr Stunning who looked the danger entering the final furlong. Still with a length or two to find, D B Pin knuckled down and grabbed the lead in the waning strides beneath a jubilant Doleuze. Beat the Clock rattled home from last with a final section in a race-best :21.53 to share second prize.

“He's so consistent,” Size said. “He's honest and he's diligent, he likes to do his job. He's made incremental improvement every time he's gone to the races, but particularly this season. He's a naturally fast horse, but this season he's learnt to settle– under Olivier's guidance, he's certainly come on and puts most of his energy into the last 400m, which is winning races for him.”

Size traveled Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) for last year's G1 Al Quoz Sprint and may send D B Pin to Meydan as well, though it is the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on the dirt that is the target.

“We'll see how he goes, he's obviously got the rating to travel now and he's a high-rated sprinter so he's got the figure where he could be competitive,” Size said.

D B Pin carried top weight off 133 pounds to a facile all-weather success in Class 2 last April (1200m in 1:07.59) (video) and Doleuze is very much on board with the idea.

“I'm not the trainer but I really hope he goes to Dubai and to the dirt race,” the Frenchman said. “I've been on some very good dirt horses before and he really gives me a great feeling, as good as any of them.”

Pedigree Notes:
D B Pin is the eighth Group 1 winner for Darci Brahma, who joins the likes of Aussie Rules, Dylan Thomas (Ire), Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) and Oratorio (Ire) as sons of the legendary Danehill to sire one or more top-level winners in Hong Kong. Danehill himself sired G1 Hong Kong Mile winners The Duke (Aus) and Lucky Owners (NZ) in addition to 2001 Stewards' Cup hero Fairy King Prawn (Aus). D B Pin was produced by a half-sister to GSW Miss Alice (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and SW Coup Fieldes (NZ) (Carolingian {Aus}). The mare's yearling filly by Fastnet Rock (Aus) is cataloged to sell through The Oaks Stud–the stallion home of Darci Brahma–as lot 479 during Tuesday's third session of Book 1 of the Karaka Yearling Sale.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY SPRINT CUP-G1, HK$10,000,000 (£904,446/€1,031,865/A$1,593,549/US$1,279,161), Sha Tin, 1-28, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:09.64, gd.
1–D B PIN (NZ), 126, g, 5, by Darci Brahma (NZ)
1st Dam: Pins 'N' Needles (NZ) (GSW & G1SP-NZ, NZ$174,725), by Pins (Aus)
2nd Dam: Raining (Aus), by Centaine (Aus)
3rd Dam: Storm Force (NZ), by Zamazaan (Fr)
*1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (NZ$200,000 Ylg '14 NZBPRE). O-Samuel Wong; B-Mrs K N & W E Calder; T-John Size; J-Olivier Doleuze; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: 14-6-5-2, HK$16,603,700. *1/2 to Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), SW & G1SP-NZ, NZ$105,400. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A.
(DH)-2–Mr Stunning (Aus), 126, g, 5, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–With Fervour, by Dayjur. (A$110,000 Wlg '13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg '14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-John Size; HK$1,600,000.
(DH)-2–Beat the Clock (Aus), 126, g, 4, Hinchinbrook (Aus)–Flion Fenena (Aus), by Lion Hunter (Aus). (A$70,000 Ylg '15 INGMEL; NZ$200,000 2yo '15 NZBRTR). O-Merrick Chung; B-Miss J Henderson (NSW); T-John Size; HK$1,600,000.
Margins: NK, (DH), 1HF. Odds: 51-10, (4-5, 18-5).
Also Ran: Lucky Year (Aus), Blizzard (Aus), Not Listenin'tome (Aus), Peniaphobia (Ire), Lucky Bubbles (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.