2017 Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 winner Edict Of Nantes looks like making his Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin this Sunday.
Subsequently renamed Northern Superstar, the now five-year-old entire left these shores with a Merit Rating of 124, and is the highest-rated import there (on adjusted Hong Kong domestic ratings) over the last decade or so.
His reappearance is sure to attract a lot of interest, both in South Africa and abroad. Trained by Tony Millard, he has been entered for the Chevalier Cup – a Class 1 Handicap.
He may well come up against another with strong SA connections, as Horse Of Fortune (the Stronghold half-brother to Do It Again) is also among the entries.
The now eight-year-old gelding was called Strongman when winning three races locally for Glen Puller including the listed Sophomore Sprint before also going to Millard in Hong Kong and being renamed Horse of Fortune.
He has certainly lived up to that tag, amassing over R20 million in stakes, while winning a further six races over there, including a couple of Grade 3’s.
And the fact he was runner up in the prestigious Grade 1 Kranji Mile when taken to Singapore as recently as May, shows there is life in him yet.
He is currently trained by CH Yip.
-Ken Nicol
