Hoi An Stakes a Claim for Best in the West

Mark Smith - Sunday April 18

The two-year-olds in Western Australia seem to have been dividing up the stakes races until the Group III WATC Gimcrack Stakes winner Hoi An staged a last to first performance in Saturday’s $200,000 Group III WA Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.

Ridden by Shaun O’Donnell for trainer Roy Rogers, the daughter of Longma put a disappointing run in the Group II Karrakatta Plate behind her when she came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the Karrakatta Plate hero Ex Sport Man (Playing God) be a half-length with the Listed WATC Supremacy Stakes winner Liwa (Mulaazem) a further three-quarter of a length back in third.

Hoi An (image Western Racepix)

A homebred for Craig and Rose Thompson’s Mt Hallowell Stud, Hoi An advanced her record to three wins and two thirds from six starts with earnings of $233,600.

Craig Thompson reflected on how close he came to scratching Hoi An and the loss of Longma.

“I am so pleased because I drew barrier 17 in the Karrakatta Plate and then she had barrier 15 on this occasion and I really thought she had no chance.

“All of a sudden she grew some wings and off she goes, I am just shocked.

“He was actually from a blue hen mare and nobody ever got to see the best of him. But how lucky am I to have five of his progeny.

Advertisement

“This filly is small but as the saying goes 'It's not the size of the dog in fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.'  

“What about the ride of Shaun O’Donnell? I said to Shaun before the race let’s not be last. Let’s be more positive at the start. But he is Mr cool, the go-to man.

“I vey nearly was not going to run her today and she almost went to the paddock after the barrier draw.

“Today is all about Shaun and Roy.”  

Hoi An is the first foal of the Wanted mare M'Lady Hallowell who won three and placed in ten of her 37 starts in the west.

A half-sister to the multiple stakes-placed, 11-time winner,  Ebony Rock (Fastnet Rock), M'Lady Hallowell has a yearling colt by Gold Standard and a colt foal by Santos. She was not covered last year.

Longma had only six foals in two seasons before his death in December 2017 due to complications from surgery to his foot.

The son of Sebring opened his career with an 8-length win on debut at Werribee when trained by Mick Price. He was later transferred to Gai Waterhouse. He won at Warwick Farm and ran Sir Moments to a half-length in the Listed Daybreak Lover Plate at Eagle Farm.

Bred by David Bentata, Longma had the pedigree to suggest he could make a success at stud, being a half-brother to Group 1 winners Gimmethegreenlight (South African Queen's Plate) and Ofcourseican (Coolmore Classic).

Ofcourseican (Mossman) is the dam of Group III Bart Cummings Stakes winner Persan (Pierro) and the promising 3yo Not A Single Doubt filly Surecan who broke her maiden with a three and a quarter length success at Ballarat on April 11.

Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) is a leading sire in South Africa.

Advertisment

Race Result - W.A. Sires' Produce Stakes Gr3 1400m

Ascot Track: Good(4) Time: 1:24.56
1
Hoi An
- 2f Longma (AUS) x M'lady Hallowell (AUS) (Wanted (AUS))
Tnr: Roy Rogers Rdr: S O'Donnell 54.5
2
0.5
Ex Sport Man
- 2g Playing God (AUS) x Buhn Lert (AUS) (Oratorio (AUS))
Tnr: S J Wolfe Rdr: T Turner 56.5
3
1.3
Liwa
- 2f Mulaazem (AUS) x Sboog (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Simon Miller Rdr: P Carbery 54.5
4
2.4
Featherweight
- 2g Snippetson (AUS) x Prime Knockout (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: Chris Parnham 56.5
5
3.1
Far Too Strong
- 2g All Too Hard (AUS) x Cailin Miss (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: Joseph Azzopardi 56.5
6
3.8
I Can See Clara
- 2c Lucky Street (AUS) x Sweet Lorraine (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T M Andrews Rdr: C Johnston-Porter 56.5
7
3.9
Heavenly Waters
- 2f Headwater (AUS) x Serafina (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Roy Rogers Rdr: Lucy Warwick 54.5
8
4.0
My Fury
- 2f My Admiration (AUS) x Furious Dame (AUS) (Universal Ruler (AUS))
Tnr: D T McAuliffe Rdr: J Whiting 54.5
9
4.1
Diamond Blue
- 2g Awesome Rock (AUS) x Joyeux (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: E A Martinovich Rdr: Jade Mc Naught 56.5
10
5.2
Awesome Rival
- 2f Awesome Rock (AUS) x Bayella (AUS) (Danehill Express (AUS))
Tnr: Daniel O'Connor Rdr: B Parnham 54.5
11
6.1
Be Optimistic
- 2f Blackfriars (AUS) x Mekie's Dream (AUS) (Pluck (USA))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: P Knuckey 54.5
12
6.3
Kaymay
- 2f Awesome Rock (AUS) x Dark Queen (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: Sue Olive Rdr: Ms K Yuill 54.5
13
6.6
Green And Shady
- 2g Vert De Grece (IRE) x Darkling (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Fernie Rdr: Mitchell Pateman 56.5
14
15.9
Extorio
- 2f Oratorio (AUS) x Deb's Delight (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: M Santich Rdr: Ryan Hill 54.5
More Reading...
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at the Warwick Farm trials with some of the big banger older stars in action and some exciting rising three year-olds that include a filly that has potential superstar written all over her.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.
Spring Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at Warwick Farm on Friday morning with a couple of heats for Group and Listed winners that included Lady Shenandaoh, Ceolwulf, plus Cups contender Sir Delius (GB).
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.