23 Oct 2022The Irishman has opened his winning account in Hong Kong and deservedly so after previously racing well in stronger company.
Our homebred finished third in the Listed Hong Kong Classic Mile last preparation before a respectable fifth in the Listed Hong Kong Derby and dropped back to Class 2 company at Sha Tin to score over 1400 metres.
The son of the late Tavistock is prepared by Francis Lui and was ridden by Ruan Maia.
The Irishman was bought out of our 2019 draft at Karaka by trainer Tony Pike for $170,000 and was a debut winner for the Cambridge horseman before he finished runner-up in the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes.
He was then purchased by clients of Mark Newnham’s Sydney stable and doubled his winning tally and was a multiple Group placegetter before relocating to Hong Kong.
The Irishman is a son of the unraced Zabeel mare Zeranti, who produced a colt by Belardo last season, and is a brother to dual Group 3 winner Gunstock. Zeranti is among the first book of mares for our Champion Two-year-old Sword of State this season.