A ‘Stunning’ Breakthrough for Lor

[Wandering Eyes]

HONG KONG — Hong Kong owners are a fickle lot, sometimes making what appear to be dramatic changes, even in the face of success.

Such was the case with Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who never set a foot wrong for trainer John Size, including a victory in last year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but nevertheless was turned over to Frankie Lor, Size’s former assistant who had a unbelievable run in his first year out on his own in 2017-2018. Having his third run this preparation Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin, the 6-year-old stalked the pace of favoured Hot King Prawn (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), wrested command from that one in the stretch and–as he did 12 months back–just held off a late flourish from former stablemate D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) to join the likes of Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie) and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) as back-to-back winners of the Sprint. Sacred Kingdom (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) were also dual winners.

Hot King Prawn, who got just the better of Mr Stunning when in receipt of five pounds in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint three weeks ago, jumped OK, but was rousted along by Joao Moreira as Mr Stunning held a spot underneath before coalescing and allowing the favorite to stride into the lead after a furlong. With Karis Teetan taking a good hold, G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize hero Ivictory (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) took up the task of pressing the pace outside Hot King Prawn, allowing Teetan to get some cover behind those two through the middle stages. Ivictory looked to be traveling well into the lane, but was soon running on empty, and Mr Stunning set his sights on the lead at the 300m. Hot King Prawn ran out of gas at the furlong grounds, succumbing to the pace pressure, and Mr Stunning hit the front at the 150m and held sway late. Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus), third in the Jockey Club Sprint when first-up since his third in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in late May, ran on well for third.

It was also a first Group 1 success in Hong Kong for jockey Karis Teetan.

“He had a lovely trip through the race and I’m just so happy,” the Mauritian said. “It’s incredible. I’ve never felt like this. It’s the first time I’ve heard the crowd shouting like this. I just knew when I pressed the button he was going to go. He felt different today, felt so good.

The win was the first of two on the day for Lor, in his sophomore season.

“I’m very happy,” Lor said, “Karis did a great job out there. It took me a long time to get a trainer’s licence, so I need to try my best to keep going and train more Group 1 winners. I think John (Size) might also be happy because I worked for him and he was a great boss.”

Pedigree Notes:

With Fervour, who was bought back on a bid of $160,000 out of the Derry Meeting Farm draft at the 1998 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, was winless in her 11 career starts for prominent owner George Strawbridge and was purchased by Australia-based John Foote Bloodstock for 65,000gns in foal to Diktat (GB) at Tattersalls December in 2003. Having produced two minor winners from her first four to race Down Under, she was sold for just A$6,000 in foal to Purrealist (Aus) at the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale in 2013. Two months later, Mr Stunning fetched A$110,000 as a weanling at the Inglis Great Southern Sale before maturing into an NZ$250,000 NZB Premier Yearling the following January. Barren to Purrealist that year, With Fervour’s final foal is the 4-year-old Mossman filly With Faith (Aus).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£2,004,715/€2,258,375/A$3,498,006/US$2,556,057), Sha Tin, 12-9, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.85, gd.
1–MR STUNNING (AUS), 126, g, 6, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: With Fervour, by Dayjur
2nd Dam: Fran’s Valentine, by Saros (GB)
3rd Dam: Iza Valentine, by Bicker
(A$110,000 Wlg ’13 INGGSW; NZ$250,000 Ylg ’14 NZBPRE). O-Maurice Koo Win Chong; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-Frankie Lor; J-Karis Teetan; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: 22-11-6-2, HK$45,847,350. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–D B Pin (NZ), 126, g, 6, Darci Brahma (NZ)–Pins ‘N’ Needles (NZ), by Pins (Aus). (NZ$200,000 Ylg ’14 NZBSEL). O-Samuel Wong Yin Shun; B-Mrs K N & W E Calder; T-John Size; J-Sam Clipperton; HK$4,400,000.
3–Beat the Clock (Aus), 126, g, 5, Hinchinbrook (Aus)–Flion Fenena (Aus), by Lion Hunter (Aus). (A$70,000 Ylg ’15 INGMAR; NZ$200,000 2yo ’15 NZBPRE). O-Merrick Chung Wai Lik; B-Miss J Henderson (NSW); T-John Size; J-Ryan Moore; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 13-5, 11-1, 69-10.
Also Ran: Little Giant (NZ), Born In China (GB), Ivictory (Aus), Lim’s Cruiser (Aus), Fine Needle (Jpn), Hot King Prawn (Aus), Winner’s Way (Aus), Sir Dancealot (Ire). Scratched: Pingwu Spark (NZ).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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