HK Star returns to NZ in Top Form

Having performed all the way up to the very highest level in Hong Kong, Karaka graduate Packing Eagle (Pins) took his career full-circle with a win in Saturday's $70,000 Group 3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua.

A son of the Group 1-placed O'Reilly mareSplashing Out(NZ), Packing Eagle was bred by Waikato Stud and was part of their draft at the 2012 Premier Sale. Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu secured him for $160,000.

After winning three trials in New Zealand, the youngster travelled to Hong Kong. Racing under his previous name Packing Pins, he won six races and placed in another three including the Group 1 Champions Mile.

Now trained in Cambridge by Trevor and Martin Cruz and raced by their mother Angel, Packing Eagle was unplaced on rain-affected tracks in his first two starts back in New Zealand in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and Group 1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).

Striking a good track for the first time in Saturday's Sweynesse Stakes, Packing Eagle and rider Trudy Thornton sat in a handy position before sprinting away impressively in the straight to win by two and a half lengths.

Among the beaten runners was his Group Three-winning half-brotherSplurge(NZ) (Savabeel).

"We've been waiting for a decent track and finally he was able to do what we thought he could," Trevor Cruz said. "He had to rediscover his form and he showed today that's he's still got the fight."

Packing Eagle has now had 22 starts for seven wins, five placings and prizemoney of $1.435 million – almost nine times his purchase price.