Features
Europeans hope to Star in pursuit of rare Hong Kong Derby triumph
A European-bred horse has not tasted success in Hong Kong’s lucrative Derby (Listed, 2000m) since Designs On Rome’s (Holy Roman Emperor) brave victory over the great Able Friend (Shamardal) in 2014, but in this year’s renewal of the race on Sunday the northern hemisphere contingent have their strongest chance since to set that record straight,... Read More
More from Focus Asia
Romantic Warrior claims ground-breaking Hong Kong Derby success
Tattersalls’ Jimmy George described it as ‘important’, while Mick Kinane, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s European bloodstock agent, said it was ‘a fantastic achievement’, and as Romantic Warrior (4 g Acclamation – Folk Melody by Street Cry) surged up ominously alongside California Spangle (Starspangledbanner) at the 200-metre mark, his victory in Sunday’s coveted Hong Kong... Read More
Yonce
Breeding, as we know, is all about meticulous planning, searching through the generations for that magical mix of the heavenly connections, and matching mare with stallion on type. And then there’s Yonce. Sometimes fortune favours the brave, and sometimes there’s dumb luck. This budding star of the Australian turf, the mare who’s won six from... Read More
Vexed question of Russian horse among internationals at ever-expanding Middle East racing carnivals
There is a very good, if not freakishly good, horse who is likely to start among the favourites for the UAE Derby at the Dubai World Cup meeting this coming Saturday night. It’s Russian. Well, in fact and perhaps ironically, it’s an American horse who was sold for US$65,000 at Keeneland from the Gainesway Farm... Read More
Five for Heroic Valour
New winners Heroic Valour – Zipping Irish (2 f ex Eire Hostess by O’Reilly) provided his sire Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) with a fifth individual winner when he broke his maiden in the maiden plate (1050m) at Mackay on Tuesday. The Clinton Taylor-trained two-year-old filly was a comfortable two-and-a-half-length winner over She’s Winning (Winning Rupert)... Read More
Little guys get their day in the sun as Bateup makes breakthrough
Golden Slipper day made the heart sing. It was one of those rare major race days where the little guys took the spotlight. There wasn’t a dry eye in my house when Shelby Sixtysix (Toronado), the horse that has come from virtual obscurity to become a force at the highest level, won The Galaxy (Gr... Read More