Ottimo Wins Four in a Row

2008 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale graduate Ottimo notched up his fourth
consecutive career win in Hong Kong on Thursday.

In his latest victory in the Class 3 HK$850,000 Heung Yip Handicap, Ottimo
produced a brilliant performance. Jumping well and settling fourth on the
rail, race leader Easy Ahead (Hawk Wing) looked to have the taken control
of the race as he slid to a four-length break at the top of the straight.
However, in a great ride, Cheng rated Ottimo beautifully and got him off
the rail and, with a sustained powerful finish, claimed the race leader and
eased up at the post for a two-and-a-quarter length win. Five-Year-Old
Zabeel gelding Vitality Express ran into second place.

The four-year-old son of Cape Cross, Ottimo is out of the Entrepreneur mare
Foxette and was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for $240,000 from
Cambridge Stud. Owned by Amateur Association Syndicate and trained by C H
Yip, Ottimo has accumulated an impressive HK$1.89 million from eight career
starts. With all four of his wins coming over a distance of 1650 metres,
the four-year-old has formed quite a partnership with jockey Y T Cheng who
has ridden him in seven of his eight starts.

Ottimo boasts an impressive pedigree, his dam Foxette is the daughter of
unraced Marscay mare Blucielo and is a half sister to Zacielo (Zabeel), a
Group 2 and Group 3 winner. His third dam Dancer's Glory (Danzatore) is the
daughter of the outstanding mare Taiona (Sovereign Edition). Taiona is also
the dam of the six time Group 1 winner Sovereign Red (Sir Tristram) whose
wins included the Victoria Derby and the Caulfield Guineas and the full
brother to Sovereign Red, the dual Group 1 winner of the Caulfield and
Melbourne Cups, Gurners Lane.

A half sister to Ottimo, by Zabeel, was sold in the 2010 Karaka Premier
Yearling Sale for $310,000 and another half sister by Keeper will be
offered in the 2011 National Yearling Sale Series. Ottimo is also from the
same family as the Encosta de Largo colt (ex Foxwood), lot 295, in the 2011
New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

The Ready to Run Sale catalogue is now online with printed catalogues
available from 27 September.

The 2011 National Yearling Sale Series runs from 31 January to 7 February
with catalogues available 26 November.