Beauty Flash Wins the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile

Sunday night's running of the world's richest mile race, the Group 1 HK$16 million HKJC Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin saw a brilliant performance from Beauty Flash to take the Group 1 honours.

Drawing the widest barrier of 14 for the coveted Group 1 mile, Beauty Flash (Golan x Wychwood Rose) jumped well in the hands of Melbourne Cup winning jockey Gerald Mosse, settling right on the pace behind race leader and fellow Kiwi bred Sight Winner.

Coming into the straight, Mosse made his move ranging up to Sight Winner and taking the lead at the 300 metres. Looking strong, French contender Sahpresa looked a real danger as she loomed up at the 150 metre mark, but Mosse rated Beauty Flash brilliantly and the gelding produced another gear to hold off the challengers and record a career best win.

Trained by Hong Kong's six-time champion jockey Anthony Cruz, the five-year-old notched up his seventh win in the Hong Kong Mile, taking his stakes earnings to over NZ$3.5 million.

 

Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Beauty Flash was bought by Mr D O'Donnell from Halidon Hill for $65,000 from the 2007 Karaka Select Yearling Sale. The son of Golan is New Zealand Bloodstock's fourth individual Group 1 winner this season, with graduates winning nine Group 1 races in three countries around the globe.The Group 1 win was the second for his sire Golan, and the first Group 1 winner for Champion New Zealand sire Volksraad as a broodmare sire. The win also capped off a successful year for Windsor Park Stud who stood Golan and of course outstanding young sire High Chaparral.

 

Beauty Flash was one of four New Zealand bred winners at Sha Tin's premier race day with victories from Affluence of Rain (Lonhro x Stella Maree), King Al Akbar (Al Akbar x Grande) and Lucky Bravo (Faltaat x Arousing), giving New Zealand the highest amount of wins from any country in the prestigious meeting.

Beauty Flash is the third Hong Kong black type winner for New Zealand so far this season which sees New Zealand first equal for black type winners and Group 1 winners in Hong Kong; and, in an amazing achievement, New Zealand leads the way for individual race winners and race wins in Hong Kong this season.

Hong Kong buyers have been big supporters of New Zealand bred horses and the Karaka National Yearling Sale Series. In 2009, Hong Kong buyers spent over NZ$10.7 million at the yearling sales and almost $11 million this year.

The 2011 Karaka National Yearling Sale Series has a large draft of 1622 horses up for auction, with 503 in the Premier Yearling Sale, 20 more than last year's 483. And on paper at least, the selection is as good as New Zealand has ever had to offer.

Among the quality draft are siblings to Hong Kong stars including Westbury Stud's colt Lot 143. By the Group 1 winning son of Danehill in Al Maher, the colt is from Wily Trick, the dam of the HK-1 Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion, who also won the HK-2 Chairman's Trophy.

Lot 450 from Whakanui Stud is another that is sure to be in hot demand; the filly is by Australian champion sire Encosta de Lago from the Last Tycoon mare Mrs. Squillionaire, the dam of the Group 1 Krisflyer International Sprint winner and New Zealand Bloodstock graduate, Green Birdie. Also the winner of the HK-2 Hong Kong Derby Trial and the HK-3 Premier Bowl, Green Birdie has been an outstanding performer and flag bearer for New Zealand and New Zealand Bloodstock.

Lot 426 is another that is sure to impress. The filly is also from the Whakanui Stud draft and is by New Zealand's champion sire Zabeel from Mantles Princess, the dam of another HK-1 Hong Kong Derby winner in Super Satin.

The Sale has a number of horses by leading sires such as Zabeel, O'Reilly, Danehill Dancer, Encosta de Lago, High Chaparral, Pins, Fastnet Rock, Elusive City, Golan and many more.

New Zealand Bloodstock graduates also notched up wins in Macau and Singapore over the weekend and are shown in the table below.

 

Horse	Breeding	Race	NZB Sale Details
Daring Youth	Bertolini x Ebony Pearl	Singapore Class 5, 1200m	v.Timberlee Thoroughbreds. MR KAH WUI LIM. 07 Ready to Run P. $62,500
Count Zerpour	Zerpour x Khaap	Singapore Class 4, 1200m	v. Westbury Stud. DEAN HAWTHORNE BLOODSTOCK, Westbury Stud Unreserved Mixed Bloodstock Sale P. $7,000
Eighth Avenue	Black Minnaloushe x Court Ballet	Singapore Class 5, 1200m	v. Anzac Lodge. NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK. 2007 Ready to Run P. $90,000
Equience	Prince Ferdinand x Ice Queen	Singapore Class 5, 1600m	v. Clevedon Breeding Farm. MS A SWANSON. Autumn Mixed Bloodstock Sale P. $700
Gordon Roberts	Encosta de Lago x Gordon's	Singapore Class 4, 1200m	v. Phoenix Park. MR DC ELLIS. 2008 Premier Yearling Sale P. $260,000
Magic leg	St. Petersburg x Plex	Singapore Class 4, 1600	v. Carberry Farm. NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK. 2006 South Island Sale P. $12,000
Smitten Kitten	Handsome Ransom x Catania	Singapore Class 5, 1200m	v. Stoney Creek Lodge. MRS MC HARKEMA. 2008 South Island Sale of 2YOs and Mixed Bloodstock P. $16,500
Top Priority	Postponed x Motown Music	Singapore Restricted Maiden, 1200	v. Woodridge Farm. MR Y ONIZUKA. 2009 Ready to Run Sale P. $16,000
Wealthy Man	Danzighill x Tatts M' Name	Macau Japan RA Trophy H, 1400m	v. White Robe Lodge. MR L DIDHAM. 2008 South Island Sale of 2YOs and Mixed Bloodstock P. $7,000
Danpaoshaq	Danasinga x Clever Clogs	Macau Racing South Africa Trophy, 1800m	v. Willowbank Stud. NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK. 2007 Ready to Run P. $130,000
Hariston	Pentire x Donna's Habit	Macau Royal Bangkok Sports Club, 1500m	v. Rich Hill Stud. MR KK LUI. 2008 Ready to Run P. $52,500

 

The New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Series will begin with the Premier Yearling Sale on 31 January & 1 February. The Karaka Select Sale will run from 2 - 4 February with the Karaka Festival Sale on 6 & 7 February.

If you would like to order a catalogue for the Karaka Yearling Sales or would like any information about the sale including assistance with flights and accommodation in New Zealand, please visit www.nzb.co.nz or contact New Zealand Bloodstock on +64 9 298 0055.