Nicconi 4YO Wins Hong Kong Classic Cup

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 27

It was an Australian bred trifecta in the HK$12million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory going to Nicconi gelding Super Sunny Sing over Sword Point (American Pharoah (USA) and Galaxy Witness (Star Witness).

Super Sunny Sing wins the Hong Kong Classic Cup - image HKJC

Trained by Chris So and ridden by Vincent Ho, Super Sunny Sing started favourite and made it four wins in a row with a determined half length win.

Ho lavished praise on Super Sunny Sing just over 70 minutes after partnering 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby champion Golden Sixty to a stirring win in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).

Contemplating Super Sunny Sing’s worthiness as a Derby candidate, Ho said: “He’s getting more mentally mature and he’s relaxing so well, so he can hopefully go to the Derby. I think Mr Size’s horse (Beauty Eternal) will be very hard to beat, but let’s see.

“I was always confident today and Chris and his team did an extraordinary job to keep the horse well and now, aiming for the Derby, we have to get him recovered. This horse has improved so much – it’s like he knows how to win and when we stepped up to 1600 metres, there was no problem and he had a great turn of foot. He’s a very smart horse. We have something special here.”

Advertisement

Super Sunny Sing was a savvy $48,000 Inglis Classic purchase.

A $48,000 Inglis Classic purchase for John Foote Bloodstock from the Noogee Park draft, Super Sunny Sing has had five wins and two placings from nine starts and is the 26th stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s Nicconi.

“To get a horse to win this race makes me very happy and it relieves a lot of pressure now,” said Chris So.

“Today has proven that he should handle further distance but let’s see how he pulls up – if he’s sound and happy, we target the Derby. We won’t change too much on the programme and just keep him happy.”

Bred by Jilly Henderson and Kate Nivison’s Etak Thoroughbreds, Super Sunny Sing is a half-brother to stakes-placed Too Many Reds and is the best of 11 winners from 11 foals to race from terrific producing Rubiton mare Red Centre, who has been pensioned.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Hong Kong Classic Cup 1800m

Sha Tin Track: G0 Time: 1:46.26
1
Super Sunny Sing
- 4g Nicconi (AUS) x Red Centre (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: W Y So Rdr: C Y Ho 57
2
0.5
Sword Point
- 4g American Pharoah (USA) x Jazz Song (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: J Bowman 57
3
2.8
Galaxy Witness
- 4g Star Witness (AUS) x Black Tulip (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: B Shinn 57
4
2.9
Tuchel
- 4g Redwood (GB) x Trista Rossa (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: Z Purton 57
5
3.5
Flagship Warrior
- 4g Foxwedge (AUS) x Inishmore (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: K Teetan 57
6
4.0
Voyage Bubble
- 4g Deep Field (AUS) x Raheights (AUS) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: P Yiu Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
7
5.0
Bon's A Pearla
- 4m Bon Hoffa (AUS) x Treasure Island (AUS) (Duporth (AUS))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: Lyle Hewitson 55.5
8
5.3
Sinba
- 4g Xtravagant (NZ) x Kamili (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: Jerry Chau 57
9
5.5
Majestic Colour
- 4g So You Think (NZ) x Vivid Diamonte (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: M Chadwick 57
10
5.8
La City Blanche
- 4g Cityscape (GB) x Etoile Blanc (BRZ) ( ())
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: A Badel 57
11
8.3
Sweet Encounter
- 4g Toronado (IRE) x Haumea (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: L Currie 57
12
8.5
Encountered
- 4g Churchill (IRE) x Enrol (GB) (Pivotal (GB))
Tnr: K L Man Rdr: S De Sousa 57
13
9.3
Keefy
- 4g All Too Hard (AUS) x Urban Rocker (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: K C Leung 57
14
15.0
Beautyverse
- 4g Tarzino (NZ) x The Love Of Money (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57
More Reading...
Lindsay Park Love Their Per Incanto's
Ben, Will and JD Hayes know a thing or two about the juvenile progeny of Per Incanto (USA), and they unveiled another exciting son of the Little Avondale Stud stallion in Melbourne’s first two-year-old race of the season on Saturday.
Too Darn Hot’s Shiki Wins G3 Gimcrack Stakes
Winning her heat in good time at the official 2yo trials saw the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Too Darn Hot filly Shiki jump away the race favourite in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), a race she duly won with a fighting performance.
Lonhro Blueblood Colt Wins Listed Dulcify
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who scored his first stakes win at Randwick on Saturday when taking out the Listed ATC Dulcify Stakes (1600m).
Inglis and Yulong Confirm Magic Time for Everest Slot
Inglis will partner with worldwide racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong for the running of the 2025 The Everest, with the combination to be represented by Magic Time in the $20m contest.
Derby Options Alive For Godolphin’s Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy look to have a smart 3yo on their hands as Impending colt Options wins the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and could now be aimed towards the $2m Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 1.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
So You Think Filly Wins G2 Edward Manifold
Danny O’Brien believes he has the Group I VRC Oaks in his sights with So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling breaking her maiden in the best way possible with a last stride win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.
$1million Stay Inside Colt Wins G3 Breeders Plate
Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper winning sire Stay Inside got the perfect result with his first runner as $1million Magic Millions purchase Incognito scored a determined win in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday in the James Harron Bloodstock colours.