When local trainer Jo-Anne Dalton put a saddle on Sestina for Sunday’s Gladvale Farms Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park, she expected the $35,000 race to be little more than a pipe-opener ahead of the Cromwell Cup (2030m) next weekend – but the Lonhro mare had other ideas.
The stage is set for Hong Kong International Day next month with Hong Kong superstars Ka Ying Rising (NZ) and Romantic Warrior (IRE) winning their respective lead up races at Sha Tin on Sunday in dazzling fashion.