It's one thing to get a jump on the field, but this isn't exactly what jockey Zac Purton had in mind. Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), favored in his seasonal debut while getting a major weight concession from the likes of Able Friend (Aus)(Shamardal) and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Sterling City (Aus) (Nadeem {Aus}), had all fours off the ground when the gates sprung for the Premier Bowl, but Purton did not panic and the lightly raced 6-year-old took care of the rest.
Immediately guided over to the inside, Aerovelocity caboosed the field as Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap) set an easy, but contested pace. The Aussie rider decided to roll the dice up the fence once heads were turned for home, and he shot through underneath Bullish Friend (Aus) (Court Command {Aus}) into the final furlong and stayed on determinedly to race past the pacesetter in the waning strides for the victory. Smart Volatility (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}) was fanned out about seven wide at the quarter pole, but came home willingly for a tough-luck third. Able Friend, who was pounded from 8-1 into 4-1 second favorite in the final two minutes of wagering, was just inside of Smart Volatility in upper stretch and looked a chance late before flattening out just a bit to finish fourth while carrying top weight of 133 pounds.
“It was unusual,” said Purton of his mount's antics in the stalls. “He was standing in the gates really well, but he just curled himself up and went into a coil, so when the gates opened he just went up. I was lucky to stay on him.”
Sterling City was never a factor and dropped out after looming a threat momentarily on the turn.
Aerovelocity was one of the more progressive types in Hong Kong last term, going up some 34 pounds in the ratings off a five-race streak that culminated with a first stakes win in the Sha Tin Vase H. May 25. He was last seen finishing second in the Premier Cup H. over 1400 meters June 8. Click for the HKJC.com chart or the HKJC.com PPs. VIDEO.
PREMIER BOWL H., HK$3,875,000 (US$499,508), Sha Tin, 10-26, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.70, gd/fm.
1–AEROVELOCITY (NZ), 122, g, 6, Pins (Aus)–Exodus
(NZ), by Kaapstad (NZ). (NZ$120,000 yrl '10
NZBPRE). O-Daniel Yeung; B-N E Schick & J E Till;
T-Paul O'Sullivan; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,208,750.
Lifetime Record: 13-7-3-1, HK$7,501,990. *Formerly
Naisoso Warrior (NZ).
2–Super Jockey (NZ), 113, g, 6, Sandtrap–Pennies In
Heaven (NZ), by Pompeii Court. O-Tony & Thomas
Lau. HK$852,500.
3–Smart Volatility (Aus), 114, g, 6, Danewin (Aus)–
Something Funny (Aus), by Baryshnikov (Aus).
O-Clarissa Or. HK$445,625.
Margins: SHD, HF, NK. Odds: 3-1, 9-2, 9-1.
Also Ran: Able Friend (Aus), Golden Harvest (Aus), Bundle of Joy (Aus), Charles the Great (Ire), Frederick Engels (GB), Bullish Friend (Aus), Sterling City (Aus), Go Baby Go (Aus).
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