By Alan Carasso
There may be no more-appropriately named horse in Hong Kong.
Having won six of his first nine trips to the post, Mr Stunning made the most of his first try against some of Hong Kong's best sprinters Sunday, defeating 2015 G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Peniaphobia fair and square in the Sprint Cup. The race serves as the main lead-up to the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize over the 1200m May 7.
Able to adapt to any pace scenario to this point in his career, Mr Stunning was quietly guided back to the tail of the field as Peniaphobia and Dashing Fellow (Aus) (Duporth {Aus}) had the pedal to the metal on the business end. Rounding the turn, Mr Stunning remained at the back and clear of traffic ahead, which found Blizzard tightened for room between Thewizardofoz and Sun Jewellery (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}).But the rail remained open for Joao Moreira and Mr Stunning and they began picking off rivals before setting their sights on the lead. Peniaphobia was looking brave on the lead, but when Dashing Fellow tailed away, that gave Mr Stunning the room he needed and he gradually reeled in Peniaphobia for the score. The photo could not split Thewizardofoz and Blizzard for third, while Lucky Bubbles failed to shine as the odds-on favorite.
“There was always a natural query about whether he could compete with the top horses,” trainer John Size said. “That's the case for any horse stepping out in that class for the first time, but he couldn't have done any better there. He did have all favours in the run, the way the race was run every horse had their chance but definitely suited him. Still, he went on and won the race and that's all you can ask for and there was a big margin behind the first two as well.”
Pedigree Notes:
Bred in Pennsylvania by the Jenneys' Derry Meeting Farm, With Fervour, a daughter of 1985 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Fran's Valentine, was bought back on a bid of $160,000 out of the 1998 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale and was placed at ages three and four in France before selling to John Foote Bloodstock for 65,000gns at the 2003 Tattersalls December sale. Sent to Australia, she is the dam of seven winners from eight to race and was sold in foal to Purrealist (Aus) for A$6,000 at the 2013 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale. The half-sister to the popular US multiple Grade I winner With Anticipation (Relaunch) did not produce a foal from that latter cover and foaled a filly by Mossman (Aus) in 2014, her last listed produce.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
SPRINT CUP-G2, HK$4,000,000, Sha Tin, 4-9, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.46, gd.
1–#@MR STUNNING (AUS), 123, g, 4, 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 '14 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg '15 NZBSEL). O-Maurice Woo Kin Chong; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: 10-7-1-1, HK$8,838,600. Werk Nick Rating: F. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Peniaphobia (Ire), 123, g, 6, Dandy Man (Ire)–Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion. (€11,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 Ylg '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen; B-Aidan Fogarty; T-Tony Cruz; HK$880,000.
(DH)-3–Thewizardofoz (Aus), 123, g, 5, Redoute's Choice (Aus)–Princess Coup (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). O-Martin Siu Kim Sun; B-Evergreen Rich Pty Ltd (NSW); T-John Size; HK$350,000.
(DH)-3–Blizzard (Aus), 123, g, 5, Starcraft (NZ)–Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). (A$75,000 Ylg '13 INGMEL). O-Infinitude Syndicate; B-G S A Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Vic); T-Ricky Yiu; HK$350,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, (DH). Odds: 12-5, 6-1, (89-10, 17-1).
Also Ran: Lucky Bubbles (Aus), Sun Jewellery (Aus), Dashing Fellow (Aus), Lucky Year (Aus), Bad Boy (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, sectional timing, PPs and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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