Sacred Kingdom Resumes in Style

1st October 2007

Exciting Hong Kong sprint star Sacred Kingdom (4g Encosta de Lago - Courtroom Sweetie, by Zeditave) resumed from a spell to score an impressive win in the Sha Tin Sprint Trophy HK Gr 3 on Monday afternoon.

Sent out a hot favourite, the Ricky Yiu trained four year-old parked just off the speed before pulling his way to the front and going on to score by a length and a half over Friendly Gains and Planet Ruler.

Sacred Kingdom carved out the 1000 metre journey in 55.90 seconds, which is not far from the course record of 54.70 seconds that he set earlier this year on March 31.

A powerhouse bay gelding by leading sire Encosta de Lago, Sacred Kingdom has now won six out of seven starts earning well over $A500,000, his only unplaced effort when fourth at his last appearance before a break with many good judges concluding he had quite possibly trained off at that point.

Sacred Kingdom looks on target for a tilt at the Group One Hong Kong International Sprint over 1200 metres in December, a race that is likely to be depleted by the absence of Australian trained runners due to the outbreak of EI.

A $200,000 purchase from the draft of Kornong Stud Farm at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Sacred Kingdom is a half-brother to stakes-placed Opter being from the Zeditave mare Courtroom Sweetie, a full sister to Group Two winner Love of Mary.

Sacred Kingdom becomes the 47^th stakes-winner worldwide for Encosta de Lago who is safely out of quarantine and back covering at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley.