Encosta's son Sacred Kingdom lands G1 HK Sprint

9th December 2007

Encosta De Lago’s son Sacred Kingdom (4g Encosta De Lago-Courtroom Sweetie, by Zeditave) saw off many of the world’s best sprinters to land the G1 Hong Kong Sprint over 1,200 metres at Sha Tin under Gerald Mosse.

Ricky Yiu’s charge finished with a late rattle to beat last year’s winner Absolute Champion by two and a quarter lengths.

"He's a very, very good horse," said Mosse. "Quite simply one of the best I have ever ridden. Coming off the final bend I had all the horse in the world but not the room. Once we found the gap - boom!"

Yiu was equally impressed and added: "He has proved he is one of the best sprinters in the world - maybe the best now. Gerald was looking for a gap but when it came 300 metres out he took it and showed the turn of foot that we expected.

"It would be nice to take him overseas at some point but there are big races to go for in Hong Kong first."

Sacred Kingdom, who was bred in Australia by the Calvert family, was sold for AUS$200,000 at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.