The Sha Tin meeting on Sunday produced some great results for the Yarraman sires with Brave Smash (Jpn) posting a winning double and Hellbent siring a promising new three-year-old winner.
Trained by Francis Lui, Brave Smash four year-old gelding Divano continued his rise through the grades to win the Class 3 sprint over 1200m by a long neck with James McDonald in the saddle. He has now won four of nine starts and has only missed a place once.
J-Mac's got a treble! 🔥
Divano grabs consecutive wins at Sha Tin for trainer Francis Lui, fending off a fast-finishing Lifeline Express… @mcacajamez | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/v3Rw9p3ikp
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 22, 2024
Divano was a successful pinhook, bought by Jim Carey for $57,500 from the Erinvale Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and then re-offered at Inglis Classic where he made $90,000 to the bid of Ryan & Alexiou Racing / D Raphael.
Bred by Aquis in partnership, Divano is the first winner for Been Scene, a three time winning Bianconi (USA) mare, whose grand-dam is Group III winner Princess Plume.
Another multiple winner in Hong Kong for Brave Smash is four year-old Super Legends, who won for the third time in the 1200m Class 4 event.
Trained by Danny Shum and ridden by James McDonald, Super Legends chimed in with a well timed run to win by three-quarters of a length.
Super Legends pounces to victory for @mcacajamez and Danny Shum, holding off a wall of challengers for a third win at Sha Tin! 💥#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/8Q6qsmwyUo
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 22, 2024
Super Legends was a $200,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Lustre Lodge draft for Golden River Investments / All Winners Thoroughbreds and was a very successful pinhook having been bought originally for $35,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the Magic Millions Weanling Sale by Coolarest Farm/Salvador Bloodstock.
Super Legends is the first winner for Devil’s Harmony (NZ), a winning Pentire (GB) mare from the family of Group I New Zealand Oaks winner Vapour Trail.
Not to be left out, Hellbent was the in the frame with the Ricky Yiu-trained three-year-old Sky Joy saluting over 1200m at his second race start.
Second on debut last month, he improved off that to score a stylish half-length win.
Hat-trick hero! 🥇🥇🥇@JerryChau15 finds the most once again as SKY JOY digs deep to deliver for Ricky Yiu!#HKRacingpic.twitter.com/FgBryKkOZC
— Hong Kong Racing (@HongKong_Racing) December 22, 2024
A $24,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Yarraman Park, Sky Joy was re-offered at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale where he made $210,000 for JCS Racing when bought by Ricky Yiu.
Sky Joy is the third winner from three foals to race from Magic of Dreams, a winning half-sister by Magic Albert to Group III winner Fine Bubbles from stakes-winner Pekalan.