The Abdicator (s/s 104) is an up-and-coming sprinter. Previously a bit of a tearaway, he is gradually learning to settle. He was slow out (perhaps on purpose) yet finished off nicely to beat Piroshka (s/s 101) Southern Skies (s/s 101) and Dumbledore (s/s 100) in a 1000m scuttle that provided the day’s top figure at Kenilworth.
He is by No Nay Never, a sire that produced the Hong Kong Derby victor on Sunday – more on that later.
Time fo Orchids (s/s 103) earned virtually the same figure when winning a sprint at Turffontein over the same distance and has been a revelation since relocating back to the Highveld and being kept to the short cuts. She was smart at three running second to Ciao Bella in the Western Cape Fillies Championships over 1400m and is realizing that natural talent, albeit under somewhat different circumstances.
Ice Star (s/s 99) Virgin River (s/s 96) and Woman of Power (s/s 96) could not keep up with the daughter of Time Thief who has now won four races in succession.
Massive Sovereign (s/s 115) won the Hong Kong Derby on Sunday at Sha Tin. The HK Derby is open to four-year-olds and Massive Sovereign, well bought out of Ballydoyle in Ireland, is now two wins from two starts in the East.
Trainer Dennis Yip stepped the son of No Nay Never out over 2000m in early March for his HK debut and three weeks later landed the huge G1 prize over the same course and distance.
Second placed Galaxy Patch (s/s 114, beaten a neck) had an unusual prep coming in as a doubtful stayer having only competed in sprints. He ran powerfully from way off the pace set by leader Ka Ying Generation, who got away six lengths clear midway down the straight and so nearly stole it.
The other big fig from Hong Kong was produced in another tight finish with Flying Ace (s/s 110) edging Howdeepisyourlove (s/s 109) and Invincible Sage (s/s 109) in the Rapper Dragon Handicap over six panels. Those are the sort of numbers required to compete in upper tier Hong Kong races.