Makybe Bred Mr Stunning Sprints into Hong Kong History

Media Release - Wednesday December 12
At the Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria annual awards last week, Makybe Racing and Breeding's Tony Santic was called up to receive the award for 'Best International Victorian bred horse", courtesy of the 2017 Hong Kong Sprint winner, Mr Stunning.

However, there was another international prize on the horizon, when the Victorian bred Mr Stunning produced an absolute blinder to win by three quarters to defend his title.

Mr Stunning - image Grant CourtneyThe son of Exceed and Excel again fended off the late challenge of D B Pin to take out the 2018 Hong Kong Sprint and became the fourth horse to win multiple sprints, placing his name alongside Hong Kong superstars, Sacred Kingdom ('09 & '07), Silent Witness ('04 & '03) and Falvelon ('01 & '00).

It's been a star-studded career for Mr Stunning who was bred by Makybe's Tony Santic and is the fifth winner from the Dayur mare With Fervour (USA), a half-sister to five-time Group One winner With Anticipation from Kentucky and Hollywood Oaks winner Fran's Valentine.

Mr Stunning was a $250,000 purchase by Magus Equine out of the Lyndhurst Farm draft at the 2014 NZB Premier Yearling Sale after Lyndhurst had pin-hooked the weanling for $110,000 out of the Makybe draft at the 2013 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.

Makybe's manager, Joe Murray, remembers Mr Stunning as a foal and while perhaps not exactly stunning early on, a lovely type regardless.

"He (Mr Stunning) was foaled down at Yallambee Stud and was a bit light boned, but very correct," Murray recalls. "He wasn't forward enough for the Magic Millions and wouldn't have got into Easter, so it was decided to sell him a weanling. Tony (Santic) wasn't going to give him away though and set a reserve of $90,000.

"The mare (With Fervour) didn't get back in foal and we were downsizing at the time, so the decision was made to sell her (With Fervour sold for $6,000 at 2013 Inglis Broodmare Sale).

"It was a fantastic result on Sunday though and good luck to the owners: he really has turned into something special."

An instant success in Hong Kong, winning three of his first four starts, Mr Stunning was named Champion Griffin in 2015-16. He since won the two Group 1's, three Group 2's and thrice been Group 1 placed. Overall, Mr Stunning has won 11 of 22 starts with eight further placings and nearly $HK46 million (approx. $A8.2 million).

Mr Stunning's win was also memorable for new trainer, Frankie Lor, and Mauritius born jockey Karis Teetan, both notching up their first Group 1 victories.

"I'm very happy, it took me a long time to get a trainers' licence, so I need to try my best to keep going and train more Group 1 winners," Lor enthused. "I think John (who placed second and third) might also be happy because I worked for him and he was a great boss."

And not forgetting the farm's famous namesake, Makybe Diva, she has an unraced two-year-old filly by Brazen Beau and produced a Written Tycoon filly in September.

"The filly is an absolute standout," Murray adds. "Could not be happier: she has all the Written Tycoon markings, right down to the white socks and we're all pretty excited."

News from TBV

Advertisment
More Reading...
15th G1 Winner for Exceed and Excel
Turning 20 this year, Darley’s champion sire Exceed and Excel has just finished a super successful Magic Millions Sale that saw him with 24 yearlings average $398,542 to be the third leading sire by average and in South Africa on Saturday he posted a 15th Group I winner.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
A New Benchmark for Edinburgh Stud
An emotional Ian Smith watched on as bidding reached $1 million for Edinburgh Stud’s stunning Exceed And Excel colt out of the Smoke Glacken mare Smokin’ Alice (USA) to set a new benchmark for the stud.
Exceed And Excel's Athelric Rewarded for Consistency
It was a 1-3 for Godolphin in Saturday’s Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds at Eagle Farm.
Best On Breeding
Placed behind subsequent Melbourne Cup heroine Empire Rose in the New Zealand Oaks, Eau D'Etoile (Sir Tristram) became that rarest of broodmares with three Group 1 winners and a Listed stakes-winner to her credit on the way to earning Broodmare Of The Year status and that should have been her crowning achievement.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.