Master Eight Goes Five For Five

Mark Smith - Sunday January 2

They got closer than in his first four starts, but not close enough as the Oamaru Force gelding Master Eight stretched his unbeaten sequence to five in the Group III Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day.

After lowering the boom on Nervous Witness over the same track and distance on November 21, Master Eight was strong to the line under Joao Moreira to defeat the John Size-trained Magnus gelding Sight Success by a half-length with the David Hayes-trained Epaulette gelding Super Wealthy a short-head back in third.

Lucky Eight (image HKJC)

Second placed Sight Success had to concede the winner 4kgs and third placed Super Wealthy 6kgs in the $A$653,000 feature.

Trainer Frankie Lor has some ambitious targets for Master Eight, which may include the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin on January 23.

“I think the horse can still improve,” Lor told the HKJC Leo Schlink.

“He will go up to a rating over 100, so we’ll be looking for a Group race for him next start. I will talk to Joao to see what we do, because Joao has commitments to some other good sprinters.

“But Joao also has some good sprinters, so I need to talk to him and talk to the owner before we make a decision. More time will be better but his rating will be a hundred and something and we need to race him in Group races - that cannot change, we don’t have a choice.”

Moreira believes that Master Eight is far from the finished article.

“He might not be the best horse, the best sprinting horse in Hong Kong at the moment but he has everything to be that in the future,” Moreira said.

Advertisement

“He’s obviously improving and today was obviously his toughest test and he’s done what we’ve expected him to do - he’s a good horse. We didn’t think he was going to get beaten and he’s proved that we are not wrong about that.”

Master Eight a $50,000 Adelaide Magic Millions yearling

Master Eight was purchased by Neerim Lodge for $50,000 from the Noor Elaine Farm draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

The chestnut is one of nine named foals from the 14th crop by Noor Elaine Farm stalwart Oamaru Force, who died in 2019.

Master Eight made one appearance at a barrier trial for Richard and Chantelle Jolly at Morphettville in October 2020 when he was named Awamoa. He defeated the subsequent Group II Tobin Bronze Stakes winner Beau Rossa that day and was sold privately to continue his career in Hong Kong.

Master Eight is the best of six winners from seven to race out of the winning Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Curzon Dancer.

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.

Curzon Dancer foaled an Ilovethiscity filly on August 30 and was covered by the Noor Elaine Farm resident again in 2021.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Gr3 1000m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 0:56.04
1
Master Eight
- 4g Oamaru Force (AUS) x Curzon Dancer (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: J Moreira 53.5
2
0.5
Sight Success
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Tarp (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: V Borges 57.5
Magnus
3
0.6
Super Wealthy
- 6g Epaulette (AUS) x Well Hidden (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: A Badel 59.5
4
1.8
Valiant Dream
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Captivating Lady (AUS) (Elvstroem (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: M F Poon 51.5
5
2.3
Hong Kong Win
- 6g Mossman (AUS) x With Apologies (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: M L Yeung 51.5
6
2.8
Computer Patch
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Girl Hussler (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: M Chadwick 60.5
7
3.3
Keep You Warm
- 5g No Nay Never (USA) x Dacio (USA) (Harlan's Holiday (USA))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: H T Mo 51.5
8
3.5
Voyage Warrior
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Chaleur (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: P Yiu Rdr: K Teetan 55.5
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
This will be the last Juvenile Trial Watch story for this season with all these youngsters to turn three on Friday and there was plenty of action with eight heats won by 2YOs and two more of this season’s G3 2YO’s North England and Memo stepping out against the older G1 stars.
Fifth Winner For Hanseatic As Audio Pop Cam Wins
With four jumpouts under her belt, winning the last three, Tony and Calvin McEvoy's Hanseatic filly Audio Pop Cam was too good for her rivals, starting favourite to win the Unox Casa Maiden Plate (1100m) at Pakenham with ease.
Savabeel Stakes-Winner in the Making
A patient approach with Force Of Nature is being rewarded in spades, with the son of Savabeel winning his way toward black-type assignments.
Stallion Shares in Cool Aza Beel Offer Rare Opportunity via Magic Millions Virtual Sale
Breeders will have a timely chance to invest in one of Australia’s most exciting young stallions next week, with two individual stallion shares in Cool Aza Beel to be offered via the Magic Millions Virtual Sale on Tuesday, August 5.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 28
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Oamaru Force's Master Eight Goes Four for Four
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.
Closer Look at Written Tycoon – The Golden Crop Delivers
The sun might be setting on the stud career of Written Tycoon, but he’s not going into the twilight years quietly and is set to be crowned Champion Australian 3YO Sire this season, which is probably something predicted by many when he got the opportunity of a lifetime to cover at Arrowfield Stud for one season in 2020.
Steve Davis Awarded NZTBA Personality of the Year
Bloodstock auctioneer and media personality Steve Davis has been honoured as the 2025 NZTBA Personality of the Year, in recognition of a lifetime of contribution to the New Zealand thoroughbred breeding industry.
Tenth Winner for Kings Legacy
King’s Legacy has had a promising start to his stud career with his tenth winner arriving on Tuesday while at the Rosehill trials one of his unraced youngsters produced a slick trial win to hold out Group performing colts Skyhook and West of Swindon.