Thewizardofoz wins again at Sha Tin

Hong Kong 3YO Thewizardofoz has backed up his very good debut win with a stylish victory in excellent time at Sha Tin on Sunday evening.

The son of Redoute’s Choice settled midfield on the rail in the Class 3 1200m event, requiring only minor magic from Joao Moreira to steer him out on the turn and urge him forward for an easy 1.5 length win in 1:08.69.

The margin flattered most of the field because only Arrowfield graduate Blizzard (by Starcraft) managed to cut into Thewizardofoz’s lead by running the fastest last 400m of the race in 21.49. Redoute’s Choice has a say in Blizzard’s pedigree too, as the sire of his dam Stormy Choice.

Thewizardofoz was bred by Tony Bott and the Siu family who are partners in Evergreen Stud, and is raced by Martin Siu Kim-sum who paid $3 million in 2009 for his dam, the top-class racemare Princess Coup (by Encosta de Lago), winner of four New Zealand Group 1 races from 1600 to 2400 metres.  There is definite magic about the Redoute’s Choice/Encosta de Lago cross, so far responsible for Musir, Beneteau, Burnstone, Peeping & Essington among 22 runners.

Thewizardofoz received his early education in the Gai Waterhouse stable, winning his third trial at Randwick last October before his transfer to Hong Kong in December. He is one of 37 winners so far from Redoute’s Choice’s 2011 crop and is a prime pick to join the six stakeswinners, headed by Majmu, Hampton Court and the Arrowfield colts Scissor Kick & Panzer Division, that it has already produced.

Princess Coup, also dam of Sydney winner Vanilla Princess, has a 2YO filly by Redoute’s Choice, a yearling colt and a weanling filly by Fastnet Rock and is in foal to Snitzel.

Moreira also combined with Arrowfield graduate Not Listenin’tome to take out the  Sha Tin Vase HK-1 on the same card. It was the John Moore-trained, Matthew Wong-owned gelding’s first win since his 3YO career in Australia where he won the MTRC Zeditave S. G3 and was twice runner-up in Group 1 company behind Appearance and Zoustar.

Not Listenin’tome was bred by Michael Pitt & Mark Read and bought for $270,000 from Arrowfield’s 2012 Inglis Easter draft by George Moore Bloodstock. Flame of Sydney, also by Encosta de Lago and in foal to Snitzel, was bought for $605,000 by Yu Long Investments at last month’s Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.