It's been almost a decade since Mid Summer Music credited Noor Elaine Farm's Oamaru Force with a career highlight win in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. Still, the former Peter Moody-trained mare may have to share the limelight in the future with a new force on the scene in Hong Kong.
He is the Frankie Lor-trained Master Eight who stared down Nervous Witness (Star Witness) in a class two over 1000m at Sha Tin on Sunday to keep his record at a perfect four for four.
Master Eight (image HKJC)
With Joao Moreira in the saddle, Master Eight defeated Nervous Witness by a length and three-quarters, with Hong Kong Win (Mossman) another length and a half away in third, while sto[[ing the clock at 55.42 seconds.
"Once again, he showed that he's got quality," Moreira told the South China Morning Post.
He's won very impressively once again – 1,000m down the straight didn't stop him, and I can describe it by saying it was even easier for him than racing an extra furlong.
"I'm very pleased, proud, and I've got to congratulate Frankie's team for doing a great job."
Master Eight is one of nine named foals from the 14th crop by Noor Elaine Farm's stalwart Oamaru Force, who died in 2019.
Master Eight was purchased by Neerim Lodge for $50,000 from the Noor Elaine Farm draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
He made one appearance for Richard and Chantelle Jolly at a barrier trial at Morphettville in October 2020 when known as Awamoa, defeating the subsequent Group II Tobin Bronze Stakes winner Beau Rossa. Shortly after boarded a plane for Hong Kong.
Master Eight is one of six winners from seven to race out of the winning Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Curzon Dancer.
The lone non-winner, Scarborough Fair, a brother to Master Eight, made 23 starts in Hong Kong with just three second place finishes to show for it.
Curzon Dancer is a daughter of the Marscay mare Curzon Place, an unraced half-sister to Blackfriars, Larrocha, Manton, Waterford Road and Lion's Gate from the prolific black-type family descending from Easter Bride (GB).
Curzon Dancer had an Overshare filly make $20,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale. She has been named I'm Over Dancing and is in the stable of Alex Rae at Cranbourne.
Curzon Dancer foaled an Ilovethiscity filly on August 30.
