Aussie Sprinter Wins First HK Stakes Race of Season

Tara Madgwick - Monday September 23

The first stakes race of the new season in Hong Kong was run at sha Tin on Sunday with the Group III Celebration Cup (1400m) won by Aussie bred Deep Field gelding The Golden Scenery.

The Golden Scenery wins the G3 Celebration Cup at Sha Tin - image HKJC

Trained by Tony Cruz, the seven year -old was given an exceptional ride by Brenton Avdulla charting a course close to the fence before sliding through a gap to challenge and then going on to claim his first Black type victory by half a length.

A two-time winner in Australia at Ipswich and Doomben racing as Dominant King, The Golden Scenery had twice been placed at Group level in Hong Kong – running third in the Celebration Cup last year.

“The Golden Scenery has always been a very honest horse and he’s always good at the start of the season and wins a race. I planned this race for a while and today the give in the ground helped,” Cruz said.

Advertisement

Purchased originally for just $4,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale from the draft of G Rapisarda , The Golden Scenery is the first winner from Saga’s Gift, a metro winner by Real Saga that traces back to stakes-winning juvenile Definately Ours.

The Golden Scenery is the 36th stakes-winner for the now pensioned Deep Field, who is the reigning champion sire in Hong Kong and posted a treble at the Sha Tin meeting on Sunday with Sugar Ball and Master Mastermind also successful.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Celebration Cup Gr3 1400m

Sha Tin Track: Dead Time: 1:22.74
1
The Golden Scenery
- 7g Deep Field (AUS) x Saga's Gift (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: B Avdulla 55
2
0.5
Taj Dragon
- 6g Mehmas (IRE) x Next Trial (IRE) (Hard Spun (USA))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: C Y Ho 61
3
2.3
Healthy Happy
- 8g Zoustar (AUS) x Lady Lakshmi (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: M Chadwick 58.5
Zoustar
4
3.3
Packing Treadmill
- 6g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x I'm An Outoftowner (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: Lyle Hewitson 55.5
5
3.5
Chiu Chow Spirit
- 5g Zoustar (AUS) x Pearl Star (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: K L Man Rdr: A Badel 53
6
3.8
Wonder Kit
- 6g Sooboog (AUS) x Ginali (AUS) (Duporth (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: A Atzeni 52.5
7
6.8
Flying Ace
- 7g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Dancescape (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: D J Hall Rdr: M F Poon 59.5
More Reading...
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Jenni The Pride of Trelawney
Comeback mare Pride Of Jenni has given Trelawney Stud a number of reasons to look forward to the spring after a dashing victory in the Gr.2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) on Friday night.
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 29
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.