Shamus Award 4YO Wins Again at Happy Valley

Tara Madgwick - Thursday January 16

Progressive Shamus Award gelding Bottomuptogether scored his fourth win from just eight starts at Happy Valley on Wednesday night to help Australian rider Zac Purton get closer to a long-standing record.

Zac Purton has edged closer to making Hong Kong racing history after drawing to within three wins of matching Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813 victories.

The seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey slotted a double on Bottomuptogether and Kasa Papa to take his overall tally in Hong Kong to 1,810, leaving Purton poised to overtake 13-time Hong Kong champion Whyte’s tally this Sunday at Sha Tin when the Australian partners Ka Ying Rising in the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).

Advertisement

Trained by Frankie Lor, Bottomuptogther charged late to snare a half length win in the Class 2 sprint over 1000m as favourite.

“He’s nice horse, he always gives his best. It was a good win, first time at Happy Valley. There was plenty of pressure early, so he had to deal with a lot and he got it done,” Purton said.

Bottomuptogether was a $150,000 MM yearling.

A $150,000 Magic Millions purchase from Rosemont Stud for Clarken Bloodstock, Bottomuptogether won a barrier trial at Gawler before being sold to Hong Kong and has been super consistent with four wins and three placings from eight starts.

“I have thought he looks like a Group horse, but he’s still not strong enough. He’s only 1,050 pounds. If he can build to maybe 1,100 (lb), he should be better. Anyway, he’s got gate speed and at this moment, 1000m and 1200m should be suitable for him,” said Frankie Lor.

Bottomuptogther is a full brother to Group III winner Ethical Solution and is one of five winners from seven to race from South African Group III winner Miss Ethics (SAfr).

She has a yearling filly by Shamus Award and after slipping in 2023 is back in foal to him again.

Advertisment

Race Result - Jackson Hcp (C2) 1000m

Happy Valley Track: Good Time: 0:56.43
1
Bottomuptogether
- 4g Shamus Award (AUS) x Miss Ethics (SAF) (Count Dubois (GB))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Z Purton 56
MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale $150,000
Seller: Rosemont Stud, Gnarwarre, Vic
Buyer: Clarken Bloodstock
2
0.5
Stellar Express
- 5g Zoustar (AUS) x Darinja (FR) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: B Avdulla 54.5
3
0.5
Youthful Spirits
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Rocket Baby (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: M Chadwick 52
4
0.8
Majestic Knight
- 6g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Negotiate (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: D Whyte Rdr: J Bowman 61
5
1.8
Tomodachi Kokoroe
- 6g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Rainbeam (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: Luke Ferraris 58
6
2
Healthy Healthy
- 5g Per Incanto (USA) x Spritz (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: K Teetan 53
7
2
Harmony N Blessed
- 8g Magnus (AUS) x Fly To Win (AUS) (Danewin (AUS))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: A Atzeni 59
8
2.5
Whizz Kid
- 6g Shalaa (IRE) x Santa Rocks (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: A Pouchin 59.5
9
7.3
Brave Star
- 6g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Isador Amore (AUS) (Hidden Dragon (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: K C Leung 56.5
More Reading...
Melbourne Racing Club Unveils Major Spring Racing Enhancements
Racing Victoria has confirmed prize money allocations for the 2025-2026 season and Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced some exciting race program changes and prizemoney increases that, together with other great initiatives at Flemington and Moonee Valley, reinforce the position of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival at the forefront of international racing.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 10
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Spring racing is just around the corner and a busy set of trials at Randwick on Friday featured eight heats won by juveniles with winners including stakes horses The Playwright and Cobra Club as well as unraced youngsters by Justify (USA), I Am Invincible and Flying Artie.
Wathnan Racing Swoop - Quai de Bethune Eclipses July Sale Record 775,000 Guineas
The Tattersalls July Sale concluded in spectacular fashion with QUAI DE BETHUNE selling for a record 775,000 guineas and the Busuttin Young stable also picked up lightly raced 3YO TIME ALLOWED for Australia.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.