Hong Kong Group One Winner for Peintre Celebre
20th January 2008
The Tony Cruz trained gelding Helene Mascot (4g Peintre Celebre – Razana, by Kahyasi) was acclaimed as “the next big thing” in Hong Kong after making a stunning debut to win the Classic Mile HK Gr1 at Sha Tin on Sunday.A Listed winner at Newmarket in England in May last year when trained by David Elsworth under the name of Salford Mill, Helene Mascot charged home to win the 1600 metre event in the blistering time of 1:34.30.
"He travelled well, we had a nice prominent position and he fought on exceptionally well in the finish. Horace's Choice went away on us at the 200m but I always felt that we were going to catch up with him," said winning jockey Felix Coetzee.
"I think he can improve but I'll leave that side of it to Tony because he is so good at getting them spot on for the big day. Not many can come in here from overseas and win first up, never mind win a Gr.1 so he's a very exciting horse.”
Helene Mascot finished sixth to Authorized in the English Derby last year and is now on track for a start in the Group One Hong Kong Derby to be run at Sha Tin on March 16.
"It feels already that the distance of 1800m in the Derby Trial and 2000m in the Derby is just what he wants," Coetzee added.
Purchased by his original trainer David Elsworth for 45,000 guineas at the 2005 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Helene Mascot is a half-brother to stakes-placed Ovambo being from stakes-placed Razana, a half-sister to the Italian stakes-winner Raysiza.
