28 Mar 2009
A rejuvenated
Special Days (NZ) (Keeper) proved superior to his rivals in the Castle Peak Handicap at the Hong Kong race-meeting conducted at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Hong Kong-based Australian trainer John Size told the South China Morning Post after the win:
"In the past, he has always wasted a lot of energy arguing with his jockeys and overracing, but he was very friendly today for Douglas (Whyte, jockey) and saved his energy for the finish," said Size. "With the big weight, he needed to do all that to win but he is a more complete horse these days."
Rider Douglas White commented: "He's all there now," was Whyte's summary. "Today he was a real professional and totally focused. In the gates, I never ever felt that he was going to miss the start and he was beautiful during the race, I could put him anywhere."
Special Days, who is by Cambridge Stud-based sire Keeper from Eva's Belle, was bred by Little Avondale in partnership with N Petrie.
He was sold from the Little Avondale draft at the 2005 New Zealand National Yearling Sales for $110,000 to Cherry Taylor. He was re-sold at the 2005 Ready To Run Sales at Karaka for $160,000 to Magus Equine from the Mana Park draft.