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Exciting Hong Kong Sprinter for Sacred Falls

Tara Madgwick - Sunday May 23

Australian bred sprinters had to bow to the might of undefeated Kiwi bred three year-old Courier Wonder, who highlighted the loss of his sire Sacred Falls when taking out the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Sunday.

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Courier Wonder wins the G3 Sha Tin Vase - image HKJC.

Trained by John Size and ridden by Joao Moreira, lightly weighted Courier Wonder was too good for Stronger (Not a Single Doubt) and Sky Field (Deep Field) winning by the best part of a length in a slick 1:08.16.
 


“I’m very excited (for next season), he’s the type of horse that everyone dreams to have,” Moreira said.  

“We had a great opportunity to learn a bit more about him today, the pace was really genuine so he had a chance to settle behind others.

“When we first started turning he got a bit lost and wanted to run out today, shying away from the other horses, but as we progressed he started to relax, which is fantastic.”

John Size indicated the Group I LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at the 2021 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is the long term goal for Courier Wonder this year, but he will have a short break following this pivotal success.

“That’s where we’re heading (Hong Kong Sprint),” he said.

“There are no races I would want to run him now and I think that he probably showed that he was looking for a break anyway – that was the feeling I got watching the race live.

“He’s got talent and we just have to manage it and try and keep him out of harm’s way and then turn him loose on a race track.”

Courier Wonder has now won five from five, proving an outstanding purchase for John Footee Bloodstock, snapped up for $150,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at Karaka Book 1.

Courier Wonder is a full brother to Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap runner-up Icebath, a winner of over $2.3million and is also a three-quarter brother to stakes-winner Nowyousee and stakes-placed Just Fabulous being from terrific producer Fabulist, a daughter of champion sire Savabeel.

Courier Wonder is the fifth stakes-winner for O’Reilly’s outstanding Group I miler Sacred Falls, who died at Waikato Stud prematurely in 2019 at age 10.
 


 

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Race Result - The Sha Tin Vase Gr1 1200m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:08.16
1
Courier Wonder
- 3g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: J Moreira 53.5
2
0.8
Stronger
- 4h Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Star Pupil (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: C Y Ho 59
3
1.1
Sky Field
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Laravissante (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: B Shinn 59
4
1.3
Duke Wai
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x Swan Lake (NZ) (Green Perfume (USA))
Tnr: P D O'Sullivan Rdr: K Teetan 55.5
5
3.0
Computer Patch
- 4r Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Girl Hussler (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: M Chadwick 60
6
3.1
Voyage Warrior
- 5g Declaration Of War (USA) x Chaleur (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: P Yiu Rdr: R Maia 59
7
4.5
Rattan
- 7g Savabeel (AUS) x Grand Princess (AUS) (Last Tycoon (IRE))
Tnr: Richard Gibson Rdr: C Schofield 59
8
4.6
Fat Turtle
- 6g Smart Missile (AUS) x Pilya (USA) (Gulch (USA))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: A Badel 55
9
5.3
Wishful Thinker
- 7g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Zebithea (AUS) (Barathea (IRE))
Tnr: C H Yip Rdr: K C Leung 59
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