Aussie Bred Trifecta in G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize

Tara Madgwick - Sunday April 24

Australian bred sprinters filled the trifecta in the Group I The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with Kia Ora Stud bred and sold All Too Hard gelding Wellington making it back to back wins in the race defeating Computer Patch (Exceed and Excel) and Sky Field (Deep Field).

Trained by Richard Gibson and ridden by Alexis Badel, Wellington scored by more than a length in 1:08.09.

Wellington wins his second G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize  - image HKJC

In claiming a successive victory in the race, Wellington joined one of the most select clubs in Hong Kong racing’s fabled speed division.

Richard Gibson’s powerful gelding, who captured the coveted prize with a striking turn of foot in 2021, was bidding to join Mr Vitality, Fairy King Prawn, Silent Witness, Sacred Kingdom, Dim Sum and Lucky Nine as a dual winner of Hong Kong’s final G1 dash of the season in recent years.

Only Mr Vitality, Silent Witness and Lucky Nine had landed the prize in successive years since 1995, but Wellington emulated them with a clinical performance which left Badel beaming and Gibson hailing “equine brilliance” as Hong Kong racing took a significant step towards pre-pandemic normality with owners back at the races for the first time since 12 January.

“What a wonderful day that the owners are here,” he said.

“I’m so pleased they are here to share such a great horse. I’m just delighted that the Club made all the efforts to make sure that the owners were here today and the crowd that are here appreciated equine brilliance because that’s what it is.

“He really is one of the top sprinters in the world. It’s difficult to win these big Group 1 races back-to-back. He’s done it and it’s a great achievement.”
 



Wellington has now won ten of his sixteen starts with a running total of over HK$40 million in prize money.

Badel has ridden Wellington in seven of those successes.

“When you ride such a good horse it makes the life of a jockey a lot easier and all credit to the trainer and Richard’s team as he’s not an easy horse to train and he knows exactly what to do,” Badel said.

“He’s given him a lot of patience and today we see the results. We make a good team and it’s great to ride such a good horse.”

Wellington was a $70,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kia Ora Stud draft for Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm and was bred by Kia Ora and partners.

Wellington was a $70,000 MM purchase from the Kia Ora Stud draft.

Bred by Kia Ora in partnership, he is the first winner from Group II placed More Than Ready (USA) mare Mihiri, who comes from a European female family featuring Group I winners Cerulean Sky and Moonstone and a raft of stakes-winning stayers such as Honoulu and Master of Reality.

The current 2YO from Mihiri, a filly by Star Witness, was sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds as agent for Kia Ora at Inglis Classic this year for $85,000 to Tricolours Racing and Syndication.

Mihiri was covered again by All Too Hard in 2020 and produced a full sister to Wellington last spring.

Wellington is one of four G1 winners for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard, who stands this spring at a fee of $38,500.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Chairman's Sprint Prize Gr1 1200m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:08.09
1
Wellington
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Mihiri (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: Richard Gibson Rdr: A Badel 57
All Too Hard
2
1.3
Computer Patch
- 5g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Girl Hussler (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: K H Ting Rdr: M Chadwick 57
3
1.5
Sky Field
- 5g Deep Field (AUS) x Laravissante (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: B Shinn 57
4
1.6
Super Wealthy
- 6g Epaulette (AUS) x Well Hidden (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: L Currie 57
5
2.3
Hot King Prawn
- 7g Denman (AUS) x De Chorus (AUS) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: J Moreira 57
6
2.5
Sight Success
- 5g Magnus (AUS) x Tarp (AUS) (Bletchley Park (IRE))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: Z Purton 57
7
2.6
Stronger
- 5h Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Star Pupil (AUS) (Starcraft (NZ))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: C Y Ho 57
8
3.8
Lucky Express
- 5g Toronado (IRE) x Il Diamante (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: A Hamelin 57
9
5.0
Lucky Patch
- 5g El Roca (AUS) x Gould (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: Jerry Chau 57
10
11.5
Kurpany
- 5g Mayson (GB) x One River (FR) (Stormy River (FR))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: Luke Ferraris 57
More Reading...
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Pelzter added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 2
Here is the full list of 44 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 3
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.