Pakistan Star Blows Then Away in QEII Cup

Mark Smith - Sunday April 29

For a horse that had won just three of his 14 starts, cult hero Pakistan Star must have the world's biggest fan club.

The German-bred son of Shamardal originally came under notice for his miraculous come from behind wins but then earned notoriety for digging in his heels midrace and refusing to budge, earning the ire of stewards.

But there has never been any question of his ability.

Advertisement

Twelve months ago in the Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin, he defeated all bar the star Japanese performer Neorealism with Horse Of The Year Werther in third place. It has been a lot of heartbreak since but that was all forgotten when William Buick guided Pakistan Star to an emphatic three-length win over his Tony Cruz-trained stablemate Gold Mount with Eagle Way one and a quarter length back in third. (photo Grant Courtney ).


With his first stakes win in the bag, there is even talk of a trip to Royal Ascot.

It was a lucky last-minute ride for Buick after Silvestre de Sousa and Kerrin McEvoy failed to make the trip to Hong Kong.

Pakistan Star was on his best behaviour, travelling sweetly on the fence in third place before Buick asked for the supreme effort.

"Tony went through his previous races with me, and he's quite a famous horse for his antics so I was aware of him and I was aware of what he can do," Buick said.

"When I found out that I was riding him, I took on board all of the information I knew about the horse and also thought it was quite important to ride him with a fresh mind and just be very positive about the horse.

"He felt beautiful today and when he quickened up the straight he felt like a world-class mile and a quarter horse."

The Japanese pair, Al Ain (Deep Impact) and Danburite (Rulership) failed to figure with the former clocking in fifth and the later seventh.

A half-brother to the stakes-placed Ninas Terz (Tertullian), Pakistan Star is the best of three winners out of the Peintre Celebre mare, Nina Celebre whose five wins included a pair of Listed races in Germany.

Nina Celebre is a daughter of the Group I German Oaks winner Next Gina who is by Testa Rossa's sire Perugino.

Pakistan Star becomes the 115th stakes winner and the 19th Group 1 winner for Shamardal (USA) who shuttled to Darley Australia for five seasons where he lest the Hong Kong Champion Able Friend, the Group 1 Epsom Handicap winner Captain Sonador, the Group 1 Darley Classic winner Delectation and the dual Group 1 winner Faint Perfume.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.