Another Hong Kong Star for Hinchinbrook

Tara Madgwick - Monday June 3
Progressive Hinchinbrook three year-old Champion's Way stamped himself as one of the brightest prospects for next season in Hong Kong when winning the Group III Lion Rock Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Champion's Way - HKJCTrained by John Size and ridden by Joao Moreira, Champions Way looked set for an easy win before racing greenly over the last furlong to score to by half length, taking his overall record to six wins and a second from just seven starts.

"I thought he should have won more easily than he did," jockey Joao Moreira said of the hot favourite.

"When I asked him to quicken, he picked up for me and felt like he was going to go on and win well. But he just snaked around again, he shifted and that cost him something.

"He still needs to learn but I'm not worried for the future. He's a young horse and he is still learning so you have to be happy with what he has done so far and it looks like he will only get better next season."

John Size was satisfied with the win.

"If he's got something to run at and has horses around him, he's probably better schooled," Size said. "If he has a couple of months off and comes out for his eighth start he's probably going to do everything right. He hasn't had any gear on him, he's just done everything on his own; we haven't tried to help him much because he keeps winning."

Champion's Way as a yearlingA $150,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft for John Foote Bloodstock, Champion's Way will be set for bigger races next season.

"The target next season is the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, he won't race again this season," said his owner Dr. Arthur Leung.

It is a rare thing for a three-year-old to win a Group race in Hong Kong. Three years ago, Rapper Dragon won the inaugural edition of this race to buck that status quo and went on to become the first horse to sweep the Classic Series, winning the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup and the BMW Hong Kong Derby the following season.

Champion's Way is the 19th stakes-winner for Yarraman Park's much missed sire Hinchinbrook, who has already sired a Hong Kong Group I winner in Beat the Clock.

Champion's Way is the best of four winners from winning Redoute's Choice mare Greta's Yarn, who comes from the family of Group I winner Signify.

The third stakes-winner to carry the blood of champion sires Fastnet Rock and Redoute's Choice, Champion's Way has an interesting pedigree featuring a double cross of Danehill as well as Lunchtime and Storm Bird. 






Advertisment

Race Result - Lion Rock Trophy Hcp Gr3 1600m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:35.00
1
Champion's Way
- 3g Hinchinbrook (AUS) x Greta's Yarn (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: J Moreira 53.5
Hinchinbrook
2
0.5
Ka Ying Star
- 4g Cityscape (GB) x Casual Glance (GB) (Sinndar (IRE))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: C Y Ho 55.5
3
0.8
Insayshable
- 5g Rajj (IRE) x Imitation (GB) (Darshaan (GB))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: U Rispoli 56
4
1.5
Mission Tycoon
- 4g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Lakemba Gold (AUS) (Made Of Gold (USA))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Grant Van Niekerk 54
5
2.0
Citron Spirit
- 7g Invincible Spirit (IRE) x Citron Presse (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid (USA))
Tnr: P Yiu Rdr: A Domeyer 59
6
3.3
Red Warrior
- 4g Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) x Sweet Dreams Baby (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: M Chadwick 53
7
3.8
Good Standing
- 5g Artie Schiller (USA) x Elahi (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: J Moore Rdr: K Teetan 56
8
5.3
Dinozzo
- 6g Lilbourne Lad (IRE) x Nisriyna (IRE) (Intikhab (USA))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: Regan Bayliss 59
9
8.3
Simply Brilliant
- 5g Frankel (GB) x Red Bloom (GB) (Selkirk (USA))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Z Purton 60.5
More Reading...
Pedigree Potential –NZB Ready to Run – Nicks that Click
A quality packed catalogue for the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale is now online and in the lead up to the sale we’ll go looking each week for some horses of interest that jump out on pedigree for various reasons.
Tara Talks Racing - Trials and Racing
This week we’re talking trials after an insightful set of official 2YO trials in Sydney, plus some racing and how Fangirl will eventually go to stud with two Group I wins less on her resume than there should be.
Hinchinbrook Sprinter wins G1 Centenary Sprint Cup Again!
The sad loss of Yarraman Park's  Hinchinbrook was highlighted yet again at Sha Tin on Sunday when his quality sprinter Beat the Clock claimed another major victory in the Group I Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Monday September 22
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 23
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Third Trial Winner for Home Affairs – This Time New Zealand
Hot on the heels of siring two trial winners at Randwick on Monday at the official Sydney 2YO trials, Home Affairs produced an impressive trial winner at Te Rapa in New Zealand on Tuesday.
2020 begins with a G1 bang for Inglis Graduates in Hong Kong
It was a case of deja vu in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin, with Inglis Premier Yearling Sale graduate Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook x Flion Fenena) triumphing for the second consecutive year in the 1200m feature.
First trial success for Sword Of State
Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by an impressive trial winner when State Of Valour coasted to victory in his two-year-old heat over 730m at Te Rapa on Tuesday.
Golden Slipper Filly for Hinchinbrook
Yarraman Park’s much missed Hinchinbrook has had some cracking fillies in the past including his Group I winners Seabrook and Spright, but he looks to have one that might be the best of them all in exciting two year-old Cellsabeel.
Well Bred Wootton Bassett Ready to Win
Regally bred colt Lydiard Park will have conditions more in his favour on Wednesday to add performance to his pedigree.