Thunder Rumbles in Classic Cup
Australian import Thunder Fantasy (Aus) (Lucky Owners {NZ} caused a boilover in Sunday’s Classic Cup at Sha Tin, thickening an already complicated plot for the Mar. 15 Hong Kong Derby.
A veteran of 12 starts Down Under for trainer Anthony Cummings, the homebred posted his biggest win in the G2 Autumn S. at Caulfield exactly 53 weeks earlier and was three times placed at Group 1 level, including a third in the Victoria Derby and runner-up effort to recent G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup third Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}) in the Rosehill Guineas last March. A horse who clearly prefers this trip and beyond, the colt had raced exclusively at the mile in his three local appearances, finishing fourth in Class 2 company Dec. 14, sixth at that level Jan. 4 and was exiting a tough-trip fifth to Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile Jan. 18.
Drawn 11 for this slightly longer test, Thunder Fantasy was bounced away from the gate by Mauritian Karis Teetan and went up to dispute the pace outside of dual Happy Valley winner Twin Delight (NZ) (Perfectly Ready {Aus}). Second favorite Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) was ridden forward by Joao Moriera, in stark contrast to his two previous local runs, while Beauty Only was well spotted in mid-division. The pace was more even than it was demanding, and Twin Delight took the field into and around the turn, but Teetan said go with Thunder Fantasy and hit the front with a little less than a quarter mile to run. The lead was short lived, however, as Moreira roused Redkirk Warrior to the front and looked on their way to the win. But the less-experienced runner wanted to lay in and lost focus, allowing Thunder Fantasy to put his nose back in front when it mattered most. Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) stayed on at one pace for third, while Beauty Only could do no better than an even fourth. The win was the fourth on the program for trainer John Size, who added a fifth with Derby prospect Luger (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) in the day’s finale.
“It looked like the horse on my outside was going to win it but then suddenly I felt he didn’t go through with it,” said Teetan, registering a breakthrough top-level local success. “My horse actually went again, so it was a very good win. I’m just over the moon.”
A Hallmark Stud-consigned Tartan Bearer (Ire) half-brother to Thunder Fantasy topped last month’s NZB Select Yearling Sale on a bid of NZ$525,000 from Philip Stokes Racing. The winner, who is bred on the reverse cross responsible for Frankel, is by the 2004 Hong Kong Derby winner. Click for the HKJC.com chart and HKJC.com PPs. VIDEO.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP, HK$6,000,000 (US$773,780), Sha Tin, 2-15, 4yo, 1800mT, 1:48.62, gd.
1–THUNDER FANTASY (AUS), 126, c, 4, Lucky Owners (NZ)–Pink Pier (Aus), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Andy Chiu Koon Ming; T-John Size; J-Karis Teetan; HK$3,420,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Aus, 16-4-1-2, HK$7,049,020.
2–Redkirk Warrior (GB), 126, g, 4, Notnowcato (GB)–Flag (GB), by Selkirk. (22,000gns yrl ‘12 TATOCT). O-Jenny Tam Yuk Ching. HK$1,320,000.
3–Giant Treasure, 126, g, 4, Mizzen Mast–Palisade, by Gone West. O-Pan Sutong. HK$690,000.
Margins: NO, HF, 1HF. Odds: 22-1, 29-10, 33-10.
Also Ran: Beauty Only (Ire), Helene Happy Star (Ire), Obliterator (Ire), Contentment (Aus), Savvy Nature (NZ), Gonna Run (Fr), Top Ace, Twin Delight (NZ), Golden Sleep (SAf).