NZB Whitewash in Hong Kong

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NZB Whitewash in Hong Kong

Horses sourced in New Zealand (either NZ bred or offered through NZB) dominated proceedings at Happy Valley last night, winning every one of the eight races on the card.
 
Mi Reilly wins the Centenary Challenge Cup (1200m) with Douglas Whyte up.

The dominance continues a dream run of success in Hong Kong where Kiwi horses have captured 70% of all races run there over the past two weeks. This was highlighted by More Bountiful's (Van Nistelrooy - Centaine Gu Li, by Centaine) win in the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy on Saturday at Sha Tin.

The big wins came in the final three events on the Happy Valley card, all class 3 events worth HK$850,000 (NZ$190,000).

In race 6, Mi Reilly (O'Reilly - Mi Centie, by Centaine) flattened out quickly in the straight after jumping awkwardly and travelling well, all the time improving his position in running. He rewarded favourite punters with victory in the hands of Douglas Whyte, the ease of his one and a half length victory with second-top weight indicating that his trainer Alex Wong had him spot on.

The five-year-old gelding by Hong Kong's leading sire O'Reilly completed the 1200m journey of the Centenary Challenge Cup in 1.10.02, the fastest 1200m of the night. This was his third win from eight starts for his owner/breeders Mr. and Mrs. Mark Fong Chung. Mi Reilly represents the successful O'Reilly-Centaine cross that has produced three of O'Reilly's seven Group 1 winners, all Karaka graduates, including Alamosa, MacO'reilly, and Guyno.

The next race, the Conference Cup (1200m), saw the Manfred Man trained galloper Natural Flame (Ishiguru - Greensleeves, by Green Perfume) score his second victory from just five starts.

The three-year-old was purchased by Manfred Man for $80,000 at the 2007 Ready to Run Sale from Esker Lodge, and already he has amassed over HK$1,000,000 (NZ$225,000) for owners Mr & Mrs Hui Kwong Chan, Kenneth Hui Yat Hing and Alexander Hui Yat Chuen.

The final event of the night saw expat Kiwi-trainer Paul O'Sullivan return to the winners circle when Dragon Eye (Danehill Dancer - Twilight Hour, by Star Way) was rewarded for his consistency in the So Kon Po Handicap (1600m).

Having not finished further back than sixth in seven outings this season, Dragon Eye scored a most dominant victory in leading all the way to score by one and three-quarter lengths and providing jockey KC Leung with his second victory for the night.

Dragon Eye was purchased by Robbie Hewetson for $230,000 at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale from Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud draft. The son of Listed winner Twilight Hour is raced by Lee Kwok Kay, and he provided Paul O'Sullivan with his twenty-third winner in Hong Kong this season.

Other Karaka graduates to score at Happy Valley included:

 Name
Breeding 
Race
Sale, Price 
Vendor  
Purchaser 
 Double Fantasy
Cullen - Awave 
Southorn Hcp (1200m) 
K2,  $30,000
Westbury Stud 
Tony Pike 
 Bondi Lad
Bel Espirit - Bondi Lass 
Mong Kok Hcp (1000m) 
RTR, psd
Charisse Lodge 
n/a 
 Care Free Midas
Shinko King - Lovethnightlife 
Siu Sai Hcp (1650m) 
 K3, $12,000
 Gredan Farm
NZB as agent 
 Sure Gain
Viking Ruler - Latin Lass 
Tai Hg Tung Hcp (2200m) 
K2, psd 
The Oaks Stud 
n/a 
 Our Lucky Baby
Stravinsky - Meranti 
Fa Hui Hcp (1200m) 
K1, $80,000 
 Cambridge Stud
 HKJC

ends
 

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