Kiwi connections shine with five Sha Tin winners
New Zealand-bred and sourced horses enjoyed another successful afternoon at Sha Tin on Sunday, winning five races on the 11-race programme.
Shinyu Kokoroe (NZ), Armour War Eagle (NZ), Jolly Brilliant (NZ), Megastar Heart and Ka Ying Attack (NZ) all saluted, with the latter helping Australian trainer David Hall celebrate his 700th Hong Kong victory.
Hall reached the milestone when Ka Ying Attack scored, becoming the 10th current Hong Kong trainer to reach 700 wins.
“It’s not something you go to work every day thinking about but 700 (wins) sounds good – 800 will sound better,” Hall said.
Ka Ying Attack (Too Darn Hot) has now won six of his 19 Hong Kong starts, having originally been bred by Jamieson Park and sold as a weanling at Karaka for just $30,000.
The son of Too Darn Hot and Refreshing subsequently made his way to New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock, for whom he won a trial before being exported to Hong Kong.
Another notable winner was Megastar Heart (Star Turn), who recorded his first Hong Kong success at his fourth start for trainer Caspar Fownes.
The son of Star Turn was prepared for the NZB Ready To Run Sale by Kit Brooks of KB Bloodstock, where he topped the sale at $825,000 when purchased by Solari Bloodstock and Pato Leung.
He subsequently raced in Australia for Annabel Archibald, winning two races, including a Listed event, before being exported to Hong Kong.
Shinyu Kokoroe (Deep Field) added another chapter to his international career when successful for trainer Brett Crawford.
Bred by Waikato Stud, the son of Deep Field and Syrahbeel was sold to KPW Bloodstock for $475,000.
He initially raced in Queensland under the name Steal King, winning twice before being transferred to David Hayes in Hong Kong. He has since joined Crawford's stable.
Armour War Eagle (War Decree) was another winner with a New Zealand racing background.
Bred by Alan Jones and Edwina Morris, the son of War Decree and Enthusabelle was offered by Highden Park at Karaka, where he was purchased by Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $105,000.
Racing as Collateral Damage, he won twice in New Zealand for the Cambridge training partnership before being exported to Hong Kong and joining Mark Newnham.
Completing the quintet was Jolly Brilliant (Ocean Park), who recorded his second Hong Kong victory.
The Waikato Stud-bred son of Ocean Park and Shopaholic was purchased by trainer Ricky Yiu for $140,000 at Karaka in 2024.
