Hong Kong Stakes-Winner for Star Witness

Tara Madgwick - Friday January 1

Widden Stud’s ever reliable sire Star Witness added a new stakes-winner to his tally at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day when Explosive Witness landed the Group III Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m).

Advertisement

Explosive Witness wins the G3 Bauhinia Sprint - image HKJC

The six year-old gelding won on debut at Moonee Valley in 2017 for the Greg Eurell stable before being sold to Hong Kong where he has raced ever since.

Trained by Caspar Fownes, Explosive Witness has built a good record in easier grade and was stepping up in class for this Black Type assignment with happy results.

He finished off hard under Alex Badel to win by a neck.
 



“It’s magic when you get a winning result like that, you go in there hoping he’ll pick up some prize money for second, third or fourth but to win – it’s magic – well deserved for the owners,” Fownes said.

On a rating of 92, the Star Witness gelding upstaged better credentialed rivals and carried bottom-weight to victory, as top-rater Computer Patch (133lb) – who sits on a mark of 115 – faded to the rear of the five-runner field after finishing a close-up sixth in December’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).  

“He’s (Explosive Witness) a horse who wasn’t that far out of the ratings – that’s why I decided to put him in and you take your chances in these sort of races when they have no weight on their back,” Fownes said.

“He’s racing really well – his 1000 metre form at Happy Valley has been superb running off big sectionals and he deserved the chance under handicap conditions to take them on – it was a tightly bunched finish but it’s wonderful for the result to go my way.”

Explosive Witness was bred by Golden Grove and has the overall record of five wins and four placings from 15 starts.

He is the best of three winners from placed Danzero mare Rocket Baby, a grand-daughter of Group III winner Rockets Galore.

Rocket Baby has a yearling colt by Shamus Award and produced a filly by Toronado (IRE) last spring.

Explosive Witness is a new SW for Star Witness.

Explosive Witness is the 17th stakes-winner for Star Witness, who has 10 entries for Magic Millions.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Gr3 1000m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 0:56.66
1
Explosive Witness
- 6g Star Witness (AUS) x Rocket Baby (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: A Badel 51.5
Star Witness
2
0.3
Stronger
- 4h Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Star Pupil (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: C Soumillon 54.5
3
0.4
Big Party
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x De Groove (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: K Teetan 58
4
0.5
Amazing Star
- 6g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Bright Abyss (USA) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: K H Ting Rdr: T Piccone 56.5
5
2.8
Computer Patch
- 4r Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Girl Hussler (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: J Moreira 60.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
Promising Victory For Too Darn Hot’s Ripley
Racing in the same Qatar Bloodstock coloured silks worn to victory on Friday night by West of Swindon (Wootton Bassett) in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes, 3yo Too Darn Hot colt Ripley highlighted his future potential with a two-length maiden victory at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
King’s Legacy Filly Salutes for Yulong
The first stakes-winner for her sire King’s Legacy when winning the Group III SAJC David Coles AM Stakes (1200m) last season, Steel Trap was subsequently purchased by Yulong privately and she posted her first win in their colours at Sandown on Wednesday.
Bryce Bevan Appointed Head of Digital at Magic Millions
Magic Millions' commitment to conduct online thoroughbred auctions has received a huge boost with today's announcement that Bryce Bevan has been appointed as Head of Digital.