So in awe of Sunny Da Best after promising galloper’s eye-catching victory
Chris So Wai-yin predicted a big future for Sunny Da Best after the inexperienced three-year-old treated his rivals with contempt in an explosive win at Sha Tin yesterday.
After working his way forward to lead for Keagan de Melo in the early stages, Sunny Da Best never looked in danger when bursting clear to win the Class Four JC Project Lift Handicap (1,400m) by three lengths.
The Proisir gelding carved out some slick sectionals in front and stopped the clock at 1:21.56 – around three lengths inside standard time.
So was in awe of his promising galloper’s outstanding display at his third career start.
“[He’s a] very good horse,” So said. “Every jockey that sits on him likes him. I can’t tell if he’s a star, but he should be a lot of fun.
“You see the [sectional] times were really good – the second section was 22 [22.19 seconds] and the last was still 22 [(22.66]. Wow.”
After flashing ability at the trials, Sunny Da Best ran an encouraging third on debut to Call Me Glorious before making late ground from barrier 13 to run a handy seventh to Phoenix Light.
With the aid of a better draw in gate six, Sunny Da Best was sent forward by De Melo but So was surprised he took up the role of pacesetter.
“I thought he might sit fifth, sixth or seventh with cover and hit the line, but he jumped well, nobody wanted to lead and we had no choice,” So said.
So expects Sunny Da Best to extend to 1,600m and possibly further, but stopped short of labelling him a Classic Series contender next season. “I think he can step up further in distance,” So said. “I really hope he can keep improving and bring us more fun.”
Sing the praises of Newnham’s Dragon
Sing Dragon collected his third consecutive win at Sha Tin yesterday and provided trainer Mark Newnham with a much-needed success after losing two of his most exciting gallopers in the past fortnight.
The lightly-raced four-year-old settled on the coattails of the leader, hit the front 200m from home and fought off a late challenge from the fastfinishing Monta Frutta in the Class Three Institute of Philanthropy Handicap (1,200m).
“I don’t think he’s one dimensional and he showed he’s got more to his armoury than just leading. He’s done a really good job,” Newnham said.
“He’s had five runs now and won three on the bounce. I don’t think he’s just an all-weather horse. Karis [Teetan] said he floated a little bit when he got past the horse on the inside but when the other one joined him, he stuck his head right out.
“He’ll have a break now. We’ll send him up to Conghua and probably just look at one or two races at the end of the season.”
After losing Windcheater and two-time victor Show Respect in the past two weeks, Newnham said Sing Dragon’s brave triumph was particularly satisfying.
“If you’ve been in the sport as long as I have you know that’s the roller coaster of racing,” he said. “It’s unfortunate but you’ve got to bounce back from it. Plus, when you have horses like Sing Dragon it softens the blow just that little bit.”
Teetan booted home a double after also guiding Cody Mo Wai-kit’s Celtic Times to victory in the Class Four Healthy Community Handicap (1,600m).
Dubai Honour primed for QE II challenge
British jockey Tom Marquand says Dubai Honour is in tip-top condition for his date with Romantic Warrior in next weekend’s Group One QE II Cup (2,000m).
The 2022 International Jockeys’ Championship winner will hop aboard Dubai Honour in the HK$28 million contest and believes the Group One-winning globetrotter is poised for another battle with Danny Shum Chap-shing’s superstar.
“I’m really looking forward to riding him,” Marquand told At The Races. “I sat on him before what was going to be his trip to Australia and he felt fantastic.
“He’s proven he’s in fantastic order at Kempton. He ran massive [in Hong Kong] last year and I think he’s a horse who’s done well for all that travelling last year and it’s matured him a bit.
“He’s a very talented horse. He’s a multiple Group One winner and that’s for good reason.”
Dubai Honour has collected six wins from 19 career starts and recorded consecutive triumphs at the elite level in Australia last season.
The six-year-old warmed up for his visit to the city with a facile success over 2,000m at Kempton earlier this month. He will aim to better his third in last year’s QE II behind Romantic Warrior and Prognosis.
William Haggas’ gelding is set to land in Hong Kong slightly later than anticipated with the other British contingent, Believing and Brave Emperor, after their flight was delayed until this morning.