Hong Kong, June 6 – Former smart Gai Waterhouse trained galloper Diego Garcia scored his first win in Hong Kong at Happy Valley on Thursday when taking out the Class Two Happy Valley Vase by nearly two lengths under the name of Express Win.
Now trained by Dennis Yip, Express Win was second at his previous start and had been thereabouts on a number of occasions since going to Hong Kong, but put it altogether for champion jockey Douglas Whyte in scoring a dominant win in the 1650 metre feature event.
Bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park, Express Win was originally purchased by Gai Waterhouse for $210,000 at the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, the son of Catbird winning three of his first four starts including the Group Two STC Todman Stakes.
Yarraman Park have sold full brothers to Express Win by Catbird from the Sir Tristram (IRE) mare Pine Lodge Lady at Magic Millions for the last two years in 2007 for $100,000 to Asian Bloodstock Services and in 2008 to Geoff Woodruff for $80,000.
Pine Lodge Lady produced a filly by Catbird last spring and was subsequently covered by one of the stud’s other resident sires in Magic Albert.