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‘TDN Rising Star’ Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), sensational in winning his first two career starts, but loser of three straight since, looks to close out 2016 on a high as the prohibitive favorite in Tuesday’s HK$2-million (£210k/€247k) Griffin Trophy (1400m) (HKJC PPs), a race restricted to 3-year-olds with the stipulation of having not started overseas prior to their import.
An €180,000 purchase by the Hong Kong Jockey Club out of the 2014 Arqana August Yearling Sale, Pakistan Star fetched HK$6 million at this year’s Hong Kong International Sale back in March and earned back a good chunk of owner Kerm Dim’s investment with two barnstorming wins, the second of which earned him his Rising Star designation. Sharp hikes in the ratings meant he found his way relatively quickly into the higher grades, and though he’s finished well in each of his last three trips to the races, he hasn’t been able to bridge the gap. He exits a fifth to Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready) as the heavy favorite on the International Races undercard Dec. 11, but looks to have these over a barrel. Joao Moreira has been booked to replace Matthew Chadwick in the saddle in what is being used as a prep for the Hong Kong Classic Mile Jan. 22.
A handful of Hong Kong Derby prospects are also among the entries in the final Sha Tin program of the year. Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), who was second in the G1 Rosehill Guineas when trained as Montaigne, and Raghu (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), the G1 New Zealand Derby third, make their Hong Kong debuts in the afternoon’s finale, a Class 2 over 1400 metres (HKJC PPs). Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}), successful in a nine-furlong Class 3 at Happy Valley last time, looks to enhance his Derby credentials in race nine (HKJC PPs), a Class 2 over the 2000 metres. Joao Moreira takes the call on the 117-pound bottomweight.
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An €180,000 purchase by the Hong Kong Jockey Club out of the 2014 Arqana August Yearling Sale, Pakistan Star fetched HK$6 million at this year’s Hong Kong International Sale back in March and earned back a good chunk of owner Kerm Dim’s investment with two barnstorming wins, the second of which earned him his Rising Star designation. Sharp hikes in the ratings meant he found his way relatively quickly into the higher grades, and though he’s finished well in each of his last three trips to the races, he hasn’t been able to bridge the gap. He exits a fifth to Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready) as the heavy favorite on the International Races undercard Dec. 11, but looks to have these over a barrel. Joao Moreira has been booked to replace Matthew Chadwick in the saddle in what is being used as a prep for the Hong Kong Classic Mile Jan. 22.
A handful of Hong Kong Derby prospects are also among the entries in the final Sha Tin program of the year. Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), who was second in the G1 Rosehill Guineas when trained as Montaigne, and Raghu (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), the G1 New Zealand Derby third, make their Hong Kong debuts in the afternoon’s finale, a Class 2 over 1400 metres (HKJC PPs). Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}), successful in a nine-furlong Class 3 at Happy Valley last time, looks to enhance his Derby credentials in race nine (HKJC PPs), a Class 2 over the 2000 metres. Joao Moreira takes the call on the 117-pound bottomweight.
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