Deep Field's Sky Field Triumphs in a Tragic Hong Kong Sprint

Mark Smith - Sunday December 12

Tragedy marred the running of the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200) at Sha Tin, which was won by Blake Shinn on the Deep Field gelding Sky Field.

Sky Field (image HKJC)

Coming around the home turn, Amazing Star (Lyle Hewitson) broke down and brought down Pixie Knight (Yuichi Fukunaga), Lucky Patch (Zac Purton) and Naboo Attack (Karis Teetan).

Shinn missed the carnage and Sky Field came from second last to defeat the Japanese mare Resistencia (Daiwa Major) by three-quarters of a length with the John Size-trained Sacred Falls gelding Courier Wonder a half-length back in third.

Advertisement

It was the sixth win in 18 starts for Sky Field whose previous biggest win came in the Group III Premier Cup Handicap (1400m).

At his previous start at the highest level, Sky Field came when third in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

“All credit to Caspar Fownes, he’s given me the opportunity to ride this lovely animal over the previous season and this season," Shinn said. 
“We’ve always had faith in him but on the big stage things haven’t always gone this way. Today, he performed to his best today and still beat a handy horse in chasing down a top-line horse in Courier Wonder and the Japanese horse.
“He’s a great horse and hopefully he can keep going forward.”

At his most recent start, the 5yo son of Deep Field finished third in the Group II BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).

Trained by Caspar Fownes, Sky Field was a $175,000 Karaka Book 1 purchase from the Trelawney Stud draft for Mr D Kwan.

Bred by Mike Ryan, Sky Field was born and raised at Segenhoe Stud and is the fifth winner for the O’Reilly mare Laravissante.

 A half-sister by O’Reilly to Hong Kong Group I winner The Duke, Laravissante has an unraced 3yo filly named Jolie Christine. Retained to race by Ryan, Jolie Christine finished fourth in a trial at Cranbourne in September.

Laravissante has a yearling filly by Pariah named Meganisi and was not covered last spring.  

Sky Field is the second Group 1 winner for Newgate Farm’s Deep Field after the MRC Oakleigh Plate dead-heater Portland Sky.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Longines Hong Kong Sprint Gr1 1200m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:08.66
1
Sky Field
- 5g Deep Field (AUS) x Laravissante (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: B Shinn 57
2
0.8
Resistencia
- 5m Daiwa Major (JPN) x Malacostumbrada (JPN) (Lizard Island (USA))
Tnr: Takeshi Matsushita Rdr: C Soumillon 55.5
3
1.3
Courier Wonder
- 4g Sacred Falls (NZ) x Fabulist (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: J Moreira 57
4
2.0
Hot King Prawn
- 7g Denman (AUS) x De Chorus (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: Ryan Moore 57
5
4.3
Stronger
- 5h Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Star Pupil (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: C Y Ho 57
6
4.5
Computer Patch
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Girl Hussler (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: Damian Lane 57
7
7.0
Wellington
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Mihiri (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Richard Gibson Rdr: A Badel 57
8
70.3
Danon Smash
- 7h Lord Kanaloa (JPN) x Spinning Wildcat (USA) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: Takayuki Yasuda Rdr: Y Kawada 57
More Reading...
Zaaki Relation Gladius Tops Second Day of Autumn HIT Sale at 950,000 Guineas
The second day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale was headed by the three-year-old colt GLADIUS at 950,000 guineas, one of eight lots to realise 300,000 guineas or more. International purchasers were again to the fore with buyers from Australia, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia securing the top five lots.
Mare in Foal to Home Affairs Tops MM Digital at $350,000
Impeccably related mare Taste of Heaven topped the first Magic Millions Digital Sale conducted today.
Long Legs Strides Clear At Rosehill
Coming out on top in Wednesday’s $100,000 ATC Tab Plate (1400m) at Rosehill, the Gary Portelli trained 3yo Russian Revolution filly Long Legs broke her maiden in the style of a filly destined for bigger and better races.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 28
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Evaporate on Track for Golden Eagle
New Zealand-bred gelding Evaporate will be seeking to pick up the biggest cheque of his career when he heads to Randwick on Saturday to contest the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m).
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 29
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G3 Bendigo Cup Success For Australian Bloodstock Owned Sayedaty Sadaty
Ciaron Maher and Australian Bloodstock teamed up on Wednesday to win the $500,000 Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) with 5yo gelding Sayedaty Sadaty (IRE), who will now need a weight penalty to force his way into the $10m Group 1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Waterhouse Bott Stable Secure Fresh Blood at Tattersalls Horses in Training
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott may well have won a Cox Plate and a Melbourne Cup this spring had their imported stayer Sir Delius (GB) not been ruled out following vetting scans, but the disappointment of that experience has in no way dampened their enthusiasm for the European product.
Waller Seeking Another Melbourne Cup
He may already have a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) win to his name but New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller says he still yearns to win the Flemington showpiece as much as anyone.
Aussie Bred Sprinter to Run in G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint This Weekend
Australian spring racing might appear to be the centre of the universe in our neck of the woods, but in the Northern Hemisphere this weekend it is all about the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in California and an Aussie bred sprinter could be poised to spring an upset.