Mr Stunning 'Bowls' Them Over

Just 20 months removed from a sparkling and victorious debut at Happy Valley, Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) has risen through the ranks to become the joint top-rated horse in Hong Kong. Despite a lofty reputation, the 5-year-old was let go at a generous quote of 8-1 for Sunday's G2 Premier Bowl H. and found the winner's circle in his second run this term.

Having shown a variety of running styles in his career, Mr Stunning jumped well and was in the early vanguard, but allowed himself to be taken back to the latter half of the field as former G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) flashed his typical early dash. Traveling a bit deep on the circle, but with cover behind the similarly progressive D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Mr Stunning was coddled along into the stretch before taken off heels just inside the 400m. Fabulous One (NZ) (Elusive City) kicked for home and pinched a break, but Mr Stunning was only just finding his top gear, raced to the lead at the sixteenth pole and held sway. Favored Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) raced inside and about fourth last early and might have been stymied for a stride or two in upper stretch before flashing home under his big weight.

“I couldn't have been more confident going into a nice race,” said winning jockey Nash Rawiller. “A lot could go wrong, he had a big weight, but I felt I was on something that was going to be damn tough to beat. He's an exceptional horse. This was the first time I'd been lucky enough to ride him in a race but he put me in a beautiful spot and travelled sweetly. It was an amazing turn-of-foot, especially with that weight.”

Winner of four of eight runs last term, including a defeat of Peniaphobia in the G2 Sprint Cup, Mr Stunning was the unlucky runner-up to Lucky Bubbles in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize before finishing unplaced on his final run of the season. He resumed with a useful two lengths' sixth to upset-minded Dashing Fellow (Aus) (Duporth {Aus}) in the G3 National Day Cup H. over the straight 1000m Oct. 1.

Pedigree Notes:

Mr Stunning is out of a daughter of US MGISW Fran's Valentine (Saros {GB}), also runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and later the dam of the popular gray galloper, the MGISW With Anticipation (Relaunch), himself runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Fran's Valentine was also responsible for French GSW & MG1SP With Fascination (Dayjur). With Fervour's last listed produce is the now 3-year-old Mossman (Aus) filly With Faith (Aus).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
PREMIER BOWL H.-G2, HK$4,000,000 (£388,713/€435,125/A$655,594/US$512,671), 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.10, gd/fm.
1–MR STUNNING (AUS), 133, g, 5, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: With Fervour, by Dayjur
2nd Dam: Fran's Valentine, by Saros (GB)
3rd Dam: Iza Valentine, by Bicker
(A$110,000 Wlg '13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg '14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo Win Chong; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-John Size; J-Nash Rawiller; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-HK, 14-8-2-1, HK$14,198,600. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lucky Bubbles (Aus), 132, g, 6, Sebring (Aus)-Bubble Below (Aus), by Hussonet. (A$90,000 Ylg '13 INGPRE). O-Lucky Syndicate; B-Gilgai Farm (Vic); T-Francis Lui; HK$880,000.
3–Amazing Kids (NZ), 129, g, 6, Falkirk (NZ)-Cadence (NZ), by Rhythm. O-Ricky Tsoi Kee Kwong; B-Colyton Road Holdings Ltd; T-John Size; HK$460,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 1. Odds: 81-10, 40-1, 3-2.
Also Ran: Magic Legend (Aus), Fabulous One (NZ), D B Pin (NZ), Strathmore (Aus), Peniaphobia (Ire), Thewizardofoz (Aus), Dashing Fellow (Aus), Not Listenin'tome (Aus).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.