Stormy Grove Sparkles with Hong Kong Classic Cup Triumph

[Wandering Eyes]

The Frankie Lor-trained Stormy Grove (Toronado) came from a long way back to cause an upset in Sunday's HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin, showing a serious turn of foot to stamp his authority on the contest and register a one-length verdict.

Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) was second, with another half a length back to Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth) in third.

Favourite Little Paradise (Toronado), who had kicked off the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with an impressive success in the HK$13-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, could finish only eighth having suffered a troubled passage.

The winner was ridden by the British-born Harry Bentley, who said, “This feels extremely special. I've liked this horse throughout and I've struck up a good partnership with him. I was extremely impressed with the way he won last time. I had to come into this race with a certain level of expectation and hope. But to do it the way he did was pretty breathtaking.”

He continued, “This ranks very highly on my wins in Hong Kong and it's very special. He's stepped up again and he can do it. Same again, now, to the Derby.”

The Hong Kong Classic Cup is the middle leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, with the final leg, the HK$26-million BMW Hong Kong Derby, scheduled to take place over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin on Sunday, March 22.

Lor said, “I thought if the pace was suitable for him, he could do the same thing as last time at 1,600 [metres]. Next is 2,000 [metres] and I think, if the pace is suitable for him, then he can do the same thing.”

Bred by Adam Sangster, Rebecca and Simon Lurati's Ealing Park, John Dickson's Sandown Lodge and Tim Jones, Stormy Grove was bought by Nardoo Valley Stud's Philip George for A$135,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Starting his racing career in Australia for Patrick and Michelle Payne, he won impressively on debut at Geelong in December 2024, before finishing an eye-catching second at Flemington. He was then exported to Hong Kong, having been purchased by Jamie McCalmont on behalf of owners Marc Chan and Lily Chan Li Lei.

Stormy Grove is one of five winners from six runners out of the Exceed And Excel mare Seagrove, with the others including the Listed Hilton Nicholas Straight Six runner-up Deekay (Hellbent). Seagrove herself is out of a winning full-sister to the G1 Ansett Australia Stakes scorer Hill Of Grace (Zabeel) and G2 Caulfield Autumn Classic winner Renewable (Zabeel).

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