Furore Flies Karaka Flag in HK Derby

Media Release - Monday March 18

For the second year in a row, the HK$18 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) has been won by a Karaka graduate.

Furore - image Grant CourtneyFollowing on fromPing Hai Star(NZ) (Nom du Jeu) 12 months earlier, the $210,000 Premier Sale purchaseFurore(NZ) (Pierro) scored an outstanding win in the four-year-old classic at Sha Tin on Sunday.

It was also the third time in the last four years that a New Zealand-bred has won the prestigious race, withWerther(NZ) (Tavistock) taking the title in 2016. Seven New Zealand-breds have won it in the last 11 years.

Like Werther, Furore was ridden to Derby glory by champion Australian jockey Hugh Bowman. Furore's trainer is the rising Hong Kong star Frankie Lor.

Bowman settled Furore in a handy position in fifth or sixth for most of the race, one off the rail. Furore showed an outstanding turn of foot in the straight, bursting to the lead and going clear to win by a length and a quarter.

"I cannot express how I feel," Lor said. "It's very difficult to get a horse into the Derby, let alone win, so it's a dream come true."

Furore was bred by GSA Bloodstock and was offered by Haunui Farm at Karaka, where he was bought by Australian Bloodstock and Lees Racing.

Advertisement

Furore began his career in Australia, where he won four of his six starts and was third in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

Overall, he has now had 11 starts for six wins, two placings and prizemoney the equivalent of NZ$3.495 million – more than 16 times his purchase price.

Furore won two of Hong Kong's three major four-year-old races, having also won the HK$10 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on January 27. He was an unlucky fourth in the HK$10 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on February 17.

"I was so thrilled to win the Classic Mile on him and that suggested to me he was a serious Derby contender," Bowman said. "The other day (the Classic Cup) I rode a negative race from a wide draw and I was dictated to by the pace and I thought he ran well. I changed tactics today. I'm just so pleased for the team."

Vendor Haunui Farm
Purchaser Australian Bloodstock/Lees Racing (New South Wales)
Breeding Pierro – Stormy Choice
Sale Lot 92, 2016 Premier Sale, $210,000
Bred by GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Godolphin Draft Headlines Huge Inglis Digital July (Early)
A 26-strong Godolphin draft, a G1 placed 3YO with credentials for the $10m Golden Eagle and shares in multiple other G1 performers including dual G1 winner Overpass headline a huge catalogue for the Inglis Digital July (Early) Online Sale.
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.
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.
Debut 2YO Winner for Brutal
Fresh from siring a smart metro winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Brutalina, Brutal was in the frame at Scone on Friday where Brett Cavanough unleashed a promising two year-old debut winner in Bird Whistle.
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.
Bloodstockauction 2025 Stallion Cover Charity Auction
Bloodstockauction Stallion Cover Charity Auction is on again this year seeking to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney.
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).
Sires With Winners - Friday July 11
Here is the full list of 45 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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,