Stunning HK Win for Star Aussie Sprinter

Tara Madgwick - Monday November 20
Exceed and Excel sprinter Mr Stunning stamped himself as the horse to beat in next month's Group I Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) with a comfortable victory in the traditional local lead-up, the Group II BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Mr Stunning - Grant CourtneyIn a sign of the strength of reigning Champion Trainer John Size's sprinting stock, Mr Stunning, under Nash Rawiller, led home a 1-2-3-5 for the stable.

Amazing Kids (Falkirk) and D B Pin (Darci Brahma) fought out second, a length and a half behind the winner, while Thewizardofoz (Redoute's Choice) made up ground from last to finish fifth.

"They've all run very pleasingly," Size said. "Mr Stunning seemed to dominate today, but it all depends on the way the race is run in three weeks. That race could be run at a different tempo, which could give us a different result. Mr Stunning still has to produce it again in three weeks, but if he pulls up well, he should be able to repeat the run.

"This preparation, though, he has done everything perfectly. He's obviously a nice horse to train, he's relatively straightforward and similarly, on raceday, he's pretty good for the jockeys too."

Mr Stunning was bred by renowned Victorian owner breeder Tony Santic under his Makybe banner, which has given us Group I winners such as Starspangledbanner, Pear Tart and Amicus, cups queen Makybe Diva aside.

Mr Stunning was sold by Makybe as a weanling at the Inglis Great Southern Sale for $110,000 and is the fifth winner from With Fervour (USA), who died in 2014. She was a half-sister to five-time Group I winner With Anticipation from Kentucky and Hollywood Oaks winner Fran's Valentine.

Mr Stunning has won nine of 15 starts and has proved to be a highly successful pinhook for New Zealand based Lyndhurst Farm fetching $250,000 to the bid of Magus Equine when re-offered through their draft at the NZB Premier Yearling Sale.



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