Numbers seeks Group One breakthrough in FWD QEII Cup

Frankie Lor believes the experience gained from defeating seasoned opposition in the Gr.3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) in February will assist Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci) when the four-year-old takes on some of the world’s best horses in the HK$30 million Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on FWD Champions Day (Sunday, 26 April) at Sha Tin.

Numbers didn’t lack Group race experience in Australia pre-import – racing three times in Group Ones, twice in Group Twos and once in a Group Three, but these all came in age-restricted contests as a three-year-old. The Tivaci gelding ran well in Group Ones in Australia, with a second in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) arguably his best performance.

Since arriving in Hong Kong, Numbers has been consistent, scoring twice, including the Centenary Vase three starts back. Last time he attempted to make all from draw 13, and was just beaten by Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) to finish second.

Lor said: “He will face the toughest challenge this time as Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) will be hard to beat. But we will try our best and hope that we can win some prizemoney. His experiences when beating an older group of runners in the Centenary Vase earlier this season will definitely be a big help.

“The horse doesn’t need to lead and the key is to relax him more in the race. In his latest barrier trial, he worked with ear plugs, with the purpose to see if this will make him more relaxed. I was pleased with that trial performance as he settled well, but I also found that the ear plugs didn’t help too much. Therefore, we will not use that gear.”

Numbers exercised on the dirt this morning (Monday, 20 April), clocking 54s (29.7s, 24.3s) under big-race jockey Derek Leung, and Lor was pleased with the horse’s effort. The trainer will arrange for Numbers to have another serious workout this Thursday (23 April).

“He has been well prepared for the race,” he said. “I would love to see a fast pace. Indeed, the faster, the better as it will be easier to settle him more in the race. Of course, a good draw will be a big plus, too, as in his recent two starts, the race circumstances were against him. Hopefully, he will run another good race for us.”– Hong Kong Jockey Club

Group Three success continues Rich Hill’s strong run

Leading thoroughbred nursery Rich Hill Stud has enjoyed a strong run of success this season, which was further enhanced at Ellerslie on Saturday when Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) took out the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m).

Bred by John Thompson and Alan Galbraith’s Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd, Lupo Solitario is by the farm’s shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin and out of Pentire mare She’s Aloof (NZ), who Rich Hill bred in a foal sharing deal with White Robe Lodge’s Wayne and Karen Stewart.

“It is a really good Waikato Stud family and Wayne and Karen approached me and wanted to do a foal for foal with Pentire with the mare (She’s Snubbed (NZ)),” Rich Hill Stud principal John Thompson said.

“The mother has got a good pedigree, she was an O’Reilly mare, and she is the dam of the South Island Filly of the Year Include (NZ) (Galant Guru).

“I agreed and it worked out well, they got a colt and we got a filly, which was She’s Aloof, the dam of Lupo Solitario.

“She showed a bit of ability but unfortunately had some soundness issues so she went to the broodmare paddock and she has produced a really nice horse.”

Thompson said Lupo Solitario was an impressive yearling and offered him through his farm’s draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale where he was purchased by Leighton Howl for $82,500.

“He was very much a quality yearling,” Thompson said. “We had a couple of nice Satono Aladdin colts in that draft, and one was Lantern Way (NZ) and another was Lupo Solitario. Leighton came back several times and looked at both of them trying to decide between the two and they both went on and won Group races as three-year-olds.”

Lupo Solitario was entrusted to the care of Matamata trainer Danica Guy and he was a standout on the track as a three-year-old, winning his first two starts before finishing runner-up to Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto) in the Gr.2 James And Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m), and then won the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).

He was subsequently sold to Hong Kong where he had seven starts, but his confidence was knocked following a race fall early last year, and following several subpar showings the decision was made to send him back to Guy in New Zealand.

Guy has taken a patient approach with his return and she has been rewarded with back-to-back victories, culminating in his Group Three triumph.

“He was an extremely talented three-year-old and he did beat Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Bonecrusher Stakes,” Thompson said. “As a result of that he got sold to Hong Kong, which always has its ups and downs, and I was watching him race up there. They set him on a Derby path and he was shaping up okay and then he had a fall which affected the horse’s confidence, so they made the decision to send him back to New Zealand.

“With a few trials and a bit of rehabilitation he has come back to form, which is fantastic.”

While Rich Hill sadly lost his dam last year, Thompson said he has a couple of his siblings to continue the bloodline.

“She (She’s Aloof) didn’t have the best feet in the world and she got laminitis and we made the sad decision to euthanise her because she was suffering,” Thompson said.

“We sold a Proisir filly, Miss Airlie, out of her that the TAB Racing Club bought and we ended up purchasing her back. She is currently in foal to Satono Aladdin which is good.

“Another Proisir filly in Nonchalance was bought by Te Akau and she trialled quite nicely recently. We retained a small share in her too because we liked her.”

Rich Hill has also retained a yearling full-sister to Lupo Solitario.

While rapt with Lupo Solitario’s return to Group-winning form, Thompson’s biggest highlight of late was when homebred mare She’s A Dealer (Ace High) won last month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, which was Thompson’s first elite-level win as an owner.

“We have bred and sold plenty of Group One winners over the years but the thrill of owning your own one certainly surpasses all of that,” Thompson said.

Following that win, the decision was made to test her talent in Australia and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood flew her over to Sydney last week where she contested the Gr.3 JRA Cup (2000m) at Randwick and finished fifth.

“She was really on the pace the whole way and it was a massive run,” Thompson said. “To get the 2000m in that sort of company she would be better ridden back a bit, but that was a decision we made at the time and you have got to stand by it, hindsight is a great thing in our game.

“She came through the run really well and I believe she is going to be flying back later today and then she will go for a break and we will be looking forward to the spring with her.”- Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Gold Patch delivers Landmark win for Purton

New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale graduate Gold Patch (NZ) (Ardrossan) provided a milestone moment at Sha Tin on Sunday, handing champion jockey Zac Purton his 100th winner of the season with a determined performance in the Class 3 Enabling Professionals To Flourish For Their Charge Handicap (1200m).

Prepared by Francis Lui, the progressive gelding showed grit under pressure, overcoming mid-race adversity before quickening smartly to secure victory.

The son of Ardrossan was secured for $250,000 by owner Kin Man Yeung from the draft of Lilywhites Lodge.

For Purton, the victory carried added significance. The eight-time Hong Kong champion brought up a century of wins in a season for the 10th consecutive campaign and the 11th time overall, underlining his remarkable consistency at the top level.

“It sounds good, doesn’t it? It’s got a nice ring to it and an even number, which is good,” Purton said.

Reflecting on Gold Patch’s performance, Purton was encouraged by the horse’s raw ability and scope for improvement.

“He’s a nice, young, improving horse – he still doesn’t know what he’s doing.

“He overcame a bit of adversity again in the mid-stages and he’s shown a nice ability to quicken. He did a really good job.”

Now 43, Purton first reached 100 wins in a Hong Kong season in 2013/14 and has continued to set the benchmark ever since, amassing a career tally approaching 2,000 wins in the city. - Hong Kong Jockey Club

Group One winner Mercurial retired

Group One winner Mercurial (NZ) (Burgundy) has been retired from racing and will now embark on a new career as an eventer. The seven-year-old son of Burgundy won six of his 46 starts for trainer Stephen Marsh, highlighted by his victory in the 2024 edition of the Gr.1 Telegraph

NZ Racing NewsJoshua Smith

Campbell duo in line for stakes assignments

Andrew Campbell is eyeing off black type events with two members of his stable in the coming week. The Otaki trainer has Friday’s Listed Manawatu ITM Anzac Mile (1600m) at Otaki in mind for comeback wonder Riverplate (NZ) (Flying Artie), while Hayworth (NZ) (Ace High) will run in the

NZ Racing NewsPaul Vettise

Collett returns to Hong Kong to ride Giovanni in Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup

It’s taken Sydney-based jockey Jason Collett more than a decade to make his return to Hong Kong, but this time he is on business and not pleasure. The 34-year-old expatriate New Zealander has been booked to ride four-year-old Giovanni (Epiphaneia)in the HK$30 million Gr.1 FWD QEII

NZ Racing NewsHKJC

Colin Berry remembered for his racing industry contribution through photography

The combined Canterbury gallops and harness community is reflecting on the life of renowned racing photographer Colin Berry following his passing in Christchurch at age 89. For all of six decades Berry was a fixture at Riccarton, Addington and other Canterbury venues, initially as a photo-finish operator and then as

NZ Racing NewsDennis Ryan

🎥 Did you see?

NZ Stallion Awards

The Centaine Award 
Sire whose NZ-conceived progeny have the highest earnings worldwide.

The Dewar Stallion Trophy
Sire whose progeny have the highest combined earnings in Australia and New Zealand.

The Grosvenor Award
Leading Sires by earnings in New Zealand.

NZ-bred Winners

Global NZ-bred winners

2026-04-11 / 2026-04-18

AUSTRALIA
Ace High : Eleanor Dumont (NZ) (Tin Goose by Pentire) 2021;
12 Apr 2026, 1st Terang RC Inverleigh Hotel Cup 1600m

Almanzor : Bang on Time (NZ) (Danahere by Dehere) 2021;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Newcastle JC Maple Design Maiden P. 1250m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $160000

Almanzor : Galant Knight (NZ) (Vanity Queen by Fastnet Rock) 2022;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Werribee RC Tobin Brothers Maiden P. 1400m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $260000

Almanzor : Pub Crawl (NZ) (Fun Seeker by Darci Brahma) 2021;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Alice Springs TC Wadelec H. 1100m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $150000

Almanzor : Foire de Trone (NZ) (City Fair by Zamindar) 2021;
15 Apr 2026, 1st MRC National Apprentice Series H. 1600m

Better Than Ready : Ready to Shine (NZ) (Luminescent by Makfi) 2020;
15 Apr 2026, 1st ATC TAB H. 1200m

El Roca : Perfumist (NZ) (Tapputi by Swiss Ace) 2021;
12 Apr 2026, 1st Wellington RC Wellington Cup 1700m
Sold by Westbury Stud at Ready to Run Sale for $190000

Embellish : Flashlight (NZ) (Flare by No Excuse Needed) 2020;
12 Apr 2026, 1st Swan Hill JC Busbiz.Net.Au H. 2400m

Hello Youmzain : Beautifully (NZ) (But Beautiful by Pivotal) 2022;
17 Apr 2026, 1st Southside Racing Ros and Lee H. 1400m
Sold by Cambridge Stud at National Yearling Sale for $280000

Hello Youmzain : Silken Salute (NZ) (Savasilk by Savabeel) 2023;
18 Apr 2026, 1st BRC XXXX 2YO H. 1400m

Niagara : Fringes (NZ) (Miss Jaydeejay by Golan) 2022;
15 Apr 2026, 1st Balaklava RC Sportsbet P. 2200m

Nicconi : The Deputy (NZ) (Enchanting Beauty by Sebring) 2019;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Toowoomba TC Barrier Reef Pools H. 1300m

Ocean Park : Oceans Above (NZ) (Ravenna by Redoute's Choice) 2019;
13 Apr 2026, 1st Seymour RC Reece Goodwin Racing H. 1600m

Ocean Park : Ohope Wins (NZ) (Choux Mania by Redoute's Choice) 2022;
11 Apr 2026, 1st ATC Australian Oaks Gr.1 2400m

Ocean Park : Oceana Dream (NZ) (Clevedon Bay by Redoute's Choice) 2021;
11 Apr 2026, 1st MRC Pinder Family Mile 1600m

Ocean Park : Liberty Park (NZ) (Liberty Pride by Hinchinbrook) 2021;
18 Apr 2026, 1st BRC Inspired Built H. 2406m

Redwood : Corkscrew (NZ) (Marsh Harbour by Volksraad) 2018;
18 Apr 2026, 1st Thangool RC Battle of the Bush P. 1200m

Redwood : Redrye (NZ) (Rock on Rye by Catcher in the Rye) 2020;
16 Apr 2026, 1st Albany RC Little Creatures H. 1940m
Sold by Cambria Park at National Online Yearling Sale for $26000

Ribchester : Stylin' (NZ) (She is All Fashion by Duke Of Marmalade) 2022;
12 Apr 2026, 1st Kalgoorlie Boulder RC Thank You Miles Rock Breaking H. 1200m
Sold by Haunui Farm at National Yearling Sale for $10000

Sacred Falls : Sacred Bull (NZ) (Moravany by Elusive Quality) 2019;
16 Apr 2026, 1st Ipswich TC Living Turf H. 2180m
Sold by Phoenix Park at Ready to Run Sale for $50000

Savabeel : Raetihi (NZ) (Lego by O'Reilly) 2019;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Bowen TC Mothers Day Raceday H. 1000m
Sold by Ohukia Lodge Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $155000

Savabeel : Eynesbury (NZ) (Miss Opulence by O'Reilly) 2022;
18 Apr 2026, 1st Illawarra TC Greenway Turf Solutions Maiden P. 1500m
Sold by Riversley Park Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $460000

Shocking : Scandalize (NZ) (Barbara Jennie by Bahhare) 2021;
11 Apr 2026, 1st SAJC Thomas Farms H. 1600m

So You Think : Victory Bay (NZ) (Clevedon Bay by Redoute's Choice) 2018;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Noorama PRC Ron & Beryl McIntosh Memorial H. 1200m

Staphanos : Vredefort (NZ) (Grande Amici by Jakkalberry) 2021;
18 Apr 2026, 1st Gympie TC Cooloola Pump & Irrigation H. 1470m
Sold by Prima Park at National Yearling Sale for $44000

Staphanos : Ishikari (NZ) (Copacabana by Captain Rio) 2021;
18 Apr 2026, 1st ATC TAB Highway H. 1400m

Tavistock : Asterix (NZ) (Mourasana by Shirocco) 2018;
18 Apr 2026, 1st ATC Japan Racing Association P. Gr.3 2000m
Sold by Curraghmore at Ready to Run Sale for $450000

Tavistock : Good Banter (NZ) (Danza Kuduro by Savabeel) 2020;
15 Apr 2026, 1st BRC Stradbroke Season H. 2040m

Tavistock : Unique Ambition (NZ) (Key to Success by Thorn Park) 2020;
18 Apr 2026, 1st ATC Midway H. 1400m
Sold by Curraghmore at National Yearling Sale for $220000

Ten Sovereigns : Valencia Roc (NZ) (Belle Roc by Rip Van Winkle) 2021;
15 Apr 2026, 1st BRC Drinkwise Maiden H. 1200m

Tivaci : Chilli Margs (NZ) (Membership by All American) 2022;
14 Apr 2026, 1st Hawkesbury RC De Bortoli Wines H. 1400m

Tivaci : Wolf Twenty One (NZ) (Callidora by Pins) 2021;
17 Apr 2026, 1st Southside Racing Core Protective Group H. 1000m
Sold by Woburn Farm at National Yearling Sale for $25000

Tivaci : Team Heist (NZ) (Oceans Eight by Ocean Park) 2021;
17 Apr 2026, 1st TTC Thank You Members H. 1420m
Sold by Trelawney Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $250000

Too Darn Hot : Taxonomy (NZ) (Phenetic by Zamindar) 2021;
18 Apr 2026, 1st Tomingley PRC Steve Magill Earthmoving Maiden P. 1150m

Turn Me Loose : Turn Me Royale (NZ) (Lady Royale by Captain Rio) 2021;
17 Apr 2026, 1st Mackay TC Racing Again Friday H. 1560m
Sold by Hallmark Stud at National Yearling Sale for $37500

Turn Me Loose : Bring Forth (NZ) (Deedee Panache by Darci Brahma) 2021;
11 Apr 2026, 1st MRC National H. 2000m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $150000

U S Navy Flag : Rule of Salex (NZ) (Charmeuse by O'Reilly) 2020;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Balnarring PRC Book Now Mornington Cup Day H. 2000m
Sold by Riversley Park Ltd at Ready to Run Sale for $90000
Sold by Valachi Downs at National Yearling Sale for $50000

U S Navy Flag : Quarry Man (NZ) (Dominance by Darci Brahma) 2022;
13 Apr 2026, 1st Longreach JC G&G Browne Smash Repairs H. 1000m
Sold by The Oaks Stud at National Yearling Sale for $100000

Zed : Magic Mikey (NZ) (Magic Tryst by Magic Ring) 2018;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Narrogin RC Kirin Hyoketsu H. 1900m
Sold by Grangewilliam Stud at National Yearling Sale for $17000


HONG KONG
Derryn : Family Fortune (NZ) (Waiana Gold by Gold Centre) 2020;
15 Apr 2026, 1st HKJC Celebrating 40 Years of the HKFC 10s H. 1650m
Sold by HGT Bloodstock Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $30000

MALAYSIA
Charm Spirit : Charminton - Imperial Genie (Mal.) (NZ) (Sarzana by High Chaparral) 2018;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Selangor TC Blue Lagoon Beach S. 1200m
Sold by Windsor Park Stud at National Yearling Sale for $65000

Mongolian Khan : Storm Deity (NZ) (Mongolian Miracle by O'Reilly) 2018;
12 Apr 2026, 1st Selangor TC Nu Sentral Mall S. 1700m

Ocean Park : Storm Park - Banker's Honor (Mal.) (NZ) (Cool Storm by One Cool Cat) 2021;
12 Apr 2026, 1st Selangor TC Gardens Mall S. 2000m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $140000

Shamexpress : Gus the Maverick - Naughty Kid (Mal.) (NZ) (Hollywood Angel by Dehere) 2016;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Selangor TC Klebang Beach S. 1400m
Sold by Blandford Lodge at National Yearling Sale for $50000

Super Seth : Appointed - Pacific Energy (Mal.) (NZ) (The Real Beel by Savabeel) 2021;
11 Apr 2026, 1st Selangor TC Batu Burok Beach S. 1200m
Sold by Waikato Stud Ltd at National Yearling Sale for $70000