Win Bright Captures Hong Kong Cup to Give Japan Three of the Four Features at Sha Tin

Mark Smith - Sunday December 8

The Japanese sent a strong contingent for this year’s International Race Day at Sha Tin and they carried of three of the four Group 1 races with Win Bright (JPN) putting the stamp on a great day when he edged the valiant Magic Wand (IRE) by a short-head in the days feature, the Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Cup.

Win Bright fights off Magic Wand image Grant Courtney

Ridden by Masami Matsuoka, Win Bright raced one out one back with Ryan Moore on Magic Wand (IRE) on his inside.

While Win Bright (JPN) had an uninterrupted run in the straight, Magic Wand (IRE) did not seem to appreciate being crowed between runners but she is nothing if not game and after looking beaten 100 metres out she began to rally and was fast-catching the winner but fell a short-head short.

Local hope Rise High (FR) (Myboycharlie) was a half-length back in third.

Win Bright completes a stunning day for Japan at Sha Tin image Grant Courtney

“It went the way we were expecting. I thought the pace would be slow so I sat about third or fourth. I was really happy the way it went. It’s a great honour to be representing Japan,” Matsuoka said.

Ryan Moore was typically succinct.

Advertisement

 “She ran super, she was unlucky. She’s very game, he said.

A multiple Group II winner in his homeland, Win Bright (JPN) defeated Exultant and Lys Gracieux in the Group 1 QE II Cup at Sha Tin back in April.

A 5yo son of the Sunday Silence stallion Stay Gold, Win Bright is a brother to Win Fabulous who was runner-up in the 2015 Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.

Their dam the 3-time winning Admire Cozzene mare Summer Eternity has a 2yo Orfevre (JPN) named Win Radiant and she had a filly foal by Deep Impact (JPN) this year.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Longines Hong Kong Cup Gr1 2000m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 2:00.52
1
Win Bright
- 6h Stay Gold (JPN) x Summer Eternity (JPN) (Admire Cozzene (JPN))
Tnr: Yoshihiro Hatakeyama Rdr: M Matsuoka 57
2
0.1
Magic Wand
- 5m Galileo (IRE) x Prudenzia (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: A O'Brien Rdr: Ryan Moore 55.5
3
0.6
Rise High
- 6g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Lana Girl (USA) (Arch (USA))
Tnr: C Fownes Rdr: C Y Ho 57
4
1.8
Furore
- 5g Pierro (AUS) x Stormy Choice (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: J Bowman 57
5
2.3
Edisa
- 4m Kitten's Joy (USA) x Ebiyza (IRE) (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE))
Tnr: A De Royer-Dupre Rdr: S Pasquier 54
6
2.8
Glorious Forever
- 6g Archipenko (USA) x Here To Eternity (USA) (Stormy Atlantic (USA))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Z Purton 57
7
3.5
Dark Dream
- 5g All American (AUS) x Buchanan Girl (AUS) (Lion Hunter (AUS))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Damian Lane 57
8
7.0
Time Warp
- 7g Archipenko (USA) x Here To Eternity (USA) (Stormy Atlantic (USA))
Tnr: A S Cruz Rdr: K Teetan 57
More Reading...
Stakes Performed Zousain Filly Too Good At Doomben
Third in the Listed Calaway Stakes two starts back, lightly raced two-year-old Zousain filly Sweet Pretender produced the goods at Doomben, charging late to win the Mullins Lawyers QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350m).
Joy for Arrowfield and Oaklands Studs as Indy Champ Claims Mile Championship at Kyoto
The great Fastnet Rock appeared in the pedigrees of two runners in Sunday’s Group 1 The Mile Championship (1600m) at Kyoto, as the sire of Fiano Romano and the sire of the dam (Mosheen) of Primo Scene, but they were to prove bit players in a race where Indy Champ became the seventh horse to claim the Mile Championship - Yasuda Kinen double.
Second Winner For Ghaiyyath As Observer Scores By Five
Second on debut when just three parts of a length off the winner at Pakenham, the James Cummings’ trained Observer (Ghaiyyath) looked sensational as he made a mess of his rivals to score over 1400m in the Tile Importer Handicap on the Sandown Lakeside course.
Written By Filly Dominates Warwick Farm Juvenile Contest
First seen at the two-year-old trials back in September, Marc Conners’ chestnut filly Penpel (Written By) produce a quality effort at just her second racetrack appearance, racing clear at Warwick Farm to score by more than three lengths.
Bred To Be Good and Bad
While the Kiwi’s are patting themselves on the back for the sublime, Champions Mile hero, Beauty Generation (Road To Rock) they can also take some credit for the Chairman's Sprint Prize winner Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook) as well as the Japanese-bred Win Bright (JPN) who captured the HKJC Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
Third Stakes Success For Justify’s Spicy Martini
A winner of four from six, three at stakes level highlighted by the reschedule Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m), the Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean trained Spicy Martini (Justify) will now head to the Group 1 Stradbroke with just 49.5kgs on her back – not bad for an $8,000 online yearling purchase!
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.