Hong Kong Group 1 success for Snitzel son

Snitzel’s 4YO son Sun Jewellery made a spectacular stakes debut when he stormed to victory in the ~$A1.8 million Hong Kong Classic Mile HK-1 on Sunday evening.

He is the 33rd stakeswinner for Snitzel whose 51 Magic Millions yearlings averaged more than $300,000 earlier this month.

Sun Jewellery’s performance was all the more impressive because he drew gate 14, but he jumped smartly for Ryan Moore who kept driving him forward. Nevertheless, Sun Jewellery raced wide without cover until the 800-metre mark  before Moore could slot him into fifth position, one off the fence. The champion jockey then waited another 400 metres before targeting the lead which Sun Jewellery claimed just as Werther, Thewizardofoz (by Redoute’s Choice) and Arrowfield graduate Blizzard (by Starcraft) launched their challenges.

However, Sun Jewellery had enough in reserve to hold them all at bay, with Werther finishing a neck away in second, Blizzard third (he posted the fastest final 400m split of 23.12) and Thewizardofoz fifth.

Watch Sun Jewellery win the Hong Kong Classic Mile HK-1.

Ryan said of Sun Jewellery, “I think he’s a very good horse and I was lucky to be riding him today. He has a very good racing mind.

“He went through the race really comfortably – it’s obviously going to be another question mark, stepping up in trip, but he’s a horse that hasn’t done a lot wrong in his life. Who’s to say where he could end up?”

His immediate target will be the second race in the Hong Kong 4YO Series, the Hong Classic Cup HK-1 over 1800m on 21 February, and he is entered for the final leg, the 2000-metre Hong Kong Derby HK-1 on 20 March. 

Sun Jewellery’s trainer John Size said, “I’m not sure what the future holds for him but, previously, horses that have run in this race with a very high rating and have won have turned out to be Group horses.

“I would think he’s got a big future. He’s always promised to step up but this is a good test today, he’s come up against some nice horses and he’s beaten them fair and square.”

Sun Jewellery is raced by his breeder Tung Moon Fai whose Hong Kong-based horses all have “Jewellery” in their names.

The chestnut gelding raced as Tan Tat Sun from Peter Moody’s stable in Victoria where he won twice as a Spring 3YO before being exported to Hong Kong where has has won all but one of his six starts and almost $900,000.

Sun Jewellery’s dam Tan Tat Star (by Umatilla), also dam of Group 3 winner Tan Tat De Lago, is a sister to the grand campaigner Umrum, whose 11 stakes wins included consecutive Toorak Handicaps.

Umatilla was a half-brother to Shantha’s Choice, dam of Snitzel’s champion sire Redoute’s Choice. Redoute’s Choice & Umatilla appear as sire and damsire of another successful member of this family, Bob & Sandra Peters’ Group-placed stakeswinner Tranquility.

Mr Tung has Tan Tat Star’s unraced 3YO son, Tan Tat Nova (by Not A Single Doubt) with Peter Moody and a 2015 filly by Bel Esprit. The mare visited Manhattan Rain last Spring.

The sire of six Australian Group 1 winners, Snitzel is currently second on the 2YO Sires’ earnings list, with Not A SIngle Doubt chasing him in third position.

Four colts and a filly by Snitzel will be offered at the NZ Premier Sale which begins at Karaka, Auckland on Monday mornng.