Darley’s champion sire Exceed and Excel has had a lot of Group I winning sprinters, but few tougher than seven year-old Mr Stunning, who cemented his place as one of Hong Kong’s finest sprinters at Sha Tin on Sunday when capturing the HK$18 million Group I Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).
The Frankie Lor-trained gelding put age and injury woes behind him to become only the third seven-year-old to succeed in the race’s 41-year history.
Mr Stunning was withdrawn from this race last year due to a hairline fracture in his shoulder but today capped a successful return with the third Group I success of his career and first win since the 2018 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, also with Karis Teetan in the saddle.
Mr Stunning went to the post odds of 20-1, but surged clear from off the pace to win by the best part of a length.
“I just had so much horse underneath me – I was tracking a few horses who are decent enough to take me into the race and I was just waiting for a gap to open. This horse, his heart is bigger than him, so I knew he would let down as soon as he got that run,” Teetan said.
Frankie Lor was delighted with Mr Stunning, who may now be retired.
“Because of the hairline fracture he had, I can’t push him too hard, especially as he is an older horse, that’s why this time I didn’t trial him before this race – we just freshened him up,” Lor said.
Slated to retire after this run, that decision may be put on hold.
“We planned this to be his last run but let me talk to the owner and we will decide and see what he thinks about the horse – he was my first G1 winner, I’m very happy for him.”
Mr Stunning was bred by renowned Victorian owner breeder Tony Santic under his Makybe banner, which has given us Group I winners such as Starspangledbanner, Pear Tart and Amicus, cups queen Makybe Diva aside.
Mr Stunning was sold by Makybe as a weanling at the Inglis Great Southern Sale for $110,000 and is the fifth winner from With Fervour (USA), who died in 2014. She was a half-sister to five-time Group I winner With Anticipation from Kentucky and Hollywood Oaks winner Fran’s Valentine.
Mr Stunning has won 12 of 30 starts and has proved to be a highly successful pinhook for New Zealand based Lyndhurst Farm fetching $250,000 to the bid of Magus Equine when re-offered through their draft at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
