Hong Kong, March 11 – – Magic Albert produced a smart debut winner at Sha Tin on Sunday in Bundle of Joy, while scoring his seventh win in Hong Kong was consistent five year-old old Real Supreme, a $220,000 Magic Millions purchase for the Hong Kong Jockey Club from the Yarraman Park draft.
Transferred to Tony Cruz last year, Real Supreme found his best form to win the 1600 metre Class Two event by a neck.
A son of champion sire Flying Spur, Real Supreme is the second foal and first winner for slick sprinter Irgunette, who won six races and was stakes-placed in Australia before going to the US where she finished second in the Group II Hollywood Dahlia Handicap.
Astute trainer David Hall was well pleased with the debut win of Magic Albert three year-old Bundle of Joy, who was sent out hot favourite for the Class Four event over 1000 metres on the strength of his strong trials and trackwork.
Despite missing the start after the horse next to him played up in the gates, Bundle of Joy overcame that minor hiccup to score by the best part of a length.
“Well at the time it looked a good reason why betting odds-on is a mistake, but all’s well that ends well,” a relieved Hall told South China Morning Post.
“And I think it was good for the horse in the end. If he had jumped quickly, led and won without seeing another horse, he’d have got the job done but he wouldn’t have learned anything. I mean, it all fell right for him after he missed the start and he got into a great spot. And when you miss the start it doesn’t always happen like that, but he was in among horses and handled it sensibly and well.”
Bundle of Joy was a $36,000 Inglis Scone Select purchase for John Foote Bloodstock from the draft of Middlebrook Station Thoroughbreds and is the first foal of Mr Henrysee (USA) mare Lady Starstruck, a grand-daughter of Group III AJC Gimcrack Stakes winner Screen Idol.