South African Stars In Hong Kong Group One’s

There is an abundance of South African presence in Hong Kong for Longines Hong Kong International Races taking place 10 December at Sha Tin.

Jessica Slack Jell’s Smart Call will line up against the likes of Highland Reel in the Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over 2400m for a winning stake of US$2.3 million. The Mauritzfontein-bred three-time Gr1 winning daughter of Ideal World out of Horse Chestnut mare Good Judgement, is trained by Sir Michael Stoute and will be ridden by Jim Crowley.

Garlingari, a son of Summerhill sire Linngari.

Smart Call has placed three times from five starts in her overseas campaign, including a French Gr1 and two British Gr2’s.  Her South African career saw her win seven times, including the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, Gr1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes and the Gr1 J&B Met, under the care of trainer Alec Laird.

The next to follow is Horse Of Fortune, formerly known as Strongman – the son of deceased Summerhill sire Stronghold is out of Sweet Virginia by Casey Tibbs, has won six races and earnings of $10,560,475.

The seven year old in training with South African Tony Millard, has won six times including the Gr3 Premier Plate under Callan Murray.

Horse Of Fortune races in the Longines Hong Kong Mile Gr1 – rated 114, Strongman is also a South African Listed Winner of the Sophomore Sprint.

Dynasty’s handsome recent Hong Kong Gr2 winner, Nassa, also in the hands of Tony Millard, will be racing in the Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over 2000m for a stake of  US$3.2 million.

Redoute’s Promise has a half brother in the Able Friend Handicap. Image: Candiese Marnewick

The South African Gr1 placed half-brother to Wagner is owned by Connie Siu Kim Ying and placed in his last start, finishing third in the Gr2 Bochk Jockey Club Cup. He will be ridden by Chad Schofield.

Other South African links include Garlingari, a French-bred Gr2 winning son of Summerhill stallion Linngari who will compete in the 2000m Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Cup alongside Wilgerbosdrift-bred Nassa, whilst Bush Hill Stud have two horses of direct interest for the day – the first is their young sire Redoute’s Promise, whose first crop are two year olds.

His Hard Spun Australian half-brother, Hard Promise, is entered in the Able Friend Handicap over 1200m in the curtain raiser of the day.

The next is Blond Me – a winner in her last outing of the Gr1 E P Taylor Stakes in Canada, the five year old mare is by Tamayuz – the latter a three parts brother to Mustajeeb who will be standing his first South African season at Bush Hill Stud in 2018.