Six out of Seven for Aussie Bred HK Up and Comer

Tara Madgwick - Thursday June 12

Yulong are producing a large number of horses each year and one whose dam was offloaded last year for $5,500 on Inglis Digital has put together an impressive Hong Kong record with six wins and a second from seven starts with his latest victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Hong Kok Golf wins at Happy Valley - image HKJC

Trained by Chris So and ridden by Harry Bentley, four year-old Grunt gelding Hong Lok Golf has been one of the finds of the season after making a winning debut at Sha Tin last November.

He has made steady progress through his grades every since, gradually stepping up in class and also distance to arrive at his latest success in a Class 2 race over 1650m.

Advertisement

He  charged to the line with a well timed run to snatch a head win running away.

“I was worried about coming to Happy Valley for the first time, but I thought the horse could be flexible – he can lead, sit off the pace or come from behind – so it was worth the try,” Chris So said.

“Every time he gives you a surprise – he’s such a tough horse and never gives up, he always hits the line strongly. I hope he can be a Group 1 horse in time.”

Hong Lok Golf was bred and sold by Yulong at Inglis Premier for $60,000.

A $60,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Yulong for John Foote Bloodstock, Hong Lok Golf is the second winner from unraced High Chaparral mare Sky Island (IRE), a half-sister to multiple Group II winner Maraahel from an international Black Type family.

Yulong sold Sky Island online for $5,500 last year to Two Fillies Stud after she missed to Written Tycoon and she was one of four mares covered last year by Cox Plate winner Adelaide (IRE), while Sky Island’s first foal Madrean, a winning daughter of Frankel was also sold online for just $14,000 to Queensland based Yarramalong.

She produced a filly for them last spring by Tagaloa and is now in foal to Better Than Ready.

It looks as though there will be several interested parties watching the progress of Hong Lok Golf and hoping he can deliver the goods in stakes company!

His sire Grunt remains on the Yulong roster at a fee of $19,800.

Advertisment

Race Result - Cheung Sha Hcp (C2) 1650m

Happy Valley Track: Firm Time: 1:38.44
1
Hong Lok Golf
- 4g Grunt (NZ) x Sky Island (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: W Y So Rdr: H Bentley 57.5
2
0.1
Steps Ahead
- 4g Written By (AUS) x Avocado (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: A Atzeni 56
3
0.8
Soleil Fighter
- 5g Sea The Moon (GER) x Force One (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: Z Purton 57.5
4
2.5
C P Brave
- 8g Zoffany (IRE) x Starship (IRE) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: P F Yiu Rdr: Jerry Chau 55.5
5
3
Voyage Samurai
- 5h Dissident (AUS) x Love Commands (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: K C Leung 59
6
3.8
The Golden Scenery
- 7g Deep Field (AUS) x Saga's Gift (AUS) (Real Saga (AUS))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: A Badel 56
7
4
Helene Feeling
- 5g Sioux Nation (USA) x Cynthia Calhoun (GB) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C S Shum Rdr: E C W Wong 58
8
4
Embraces
- 4g Reliable Man (GB) x Abbey Tralae (NZ) (Traditionally (USA))
Tnr: W K Mo Rdr: Y L Chung 52.5
9
6.3
Telecom Fighters
- 8g The Brothers War (USA) x Moorings Capital (AUS) (Song Of Tara (IRE))
Tnr: Y S Tsui Rdr: James Orman 58.5
More Reading...
Trapeze Artist Mare Earns Shot at G1 Metrop
The in form Ciaron Maher stable produced the quinella in the$250,000 Group III ATC Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday with race favourite Juja Kibo (GB) beaten by progressive mare Piggyback.
Manaal Wins G2 Golden Pendant – Stakes Double Emirates Park
At the official Sydney 2YO trials two years ago in 2023 two fillies impressed in their heat with Gerringong winning and Manaal finishing a close third and the pair filled the quinella in the $400,000 Group II ATC Golden Pendant (1400m ) at Rosehill on Saturday.
G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude Victory To Ferivia
Successful in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes two starts back, the Phillip Stokes trained Ferivia secured victory in the Group 2 MRC Thousand Guineas Prelude, becoming the second Group winner in the last 24 hours for the stable after the success of Snow Mercy overnight in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.
Beiwacht Breaks Track Record In G1 Golden Rose Romp
With many of the opinion that Godolphin would provide the winner of this year’s $1m Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (1400m), they were right, but not with the 3yo expected as the Chris Waller trained Bivouac colt Beiwacht was simply sensational in his track record breaking victory.
Golden Slipper Winner Marhoona Resumes With Heritage Stakes Win
Having not been seen on race day since her success in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (1200m), Champion 2YO Marhoona (Snitzel) put pay to any ‘Golden Slipper hoodoo’ to win the Listed ATC Heritage Stakes (1100m) at her first start at 3.
Proisir 6YO Waitak Captures Another G1
Saturday's Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa took Waitak past the million-dollar barrier and added another triumphant chapter to his unique Group One record.
Magic Carpet wins G2 Hawkes Bay Guineas - New SW Satono Aladdin
Talented colt Magic Carpet chose the ideal moment to break his maiden status when he produced a dogged effort to claim victory in the Gr.2 Timberspan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400).
Kiwi Bred Evaporate Wins G3 Sandown Stakes
Smart four-year-old Evaporate bounced back from a setback to win Saturday’s Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) in gallant fashion, defeating favourite Transatlantic by a nose.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 27
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Waterford Wins G2 Shannon Stakes
Talented import Waterford (IRE) has long promised to win a stakes race and he did the job in spectacular fashion at Rosehill on Saturday when scoring a dominant win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Shannon Stakes (1500m).