Sizzling Win for Sacred Kingdom
17th February 2008
Explosive Hong Kong sprinter Sacred Kingdom (4g Encosta de Lago x Courtroom Sweetie, by Zeditave) bounced back from a narrow last start defeat by Absolute Champion to turn the tables on his archrival in winning the Chairman’s Sprint Prize HK Gr 1 at Sha Tin on Sunday by a length and a half.
Ridden a perfect race by Gerald Mosse, Sacred Kingdom settled in fourth position and then unleashed a sizzling turn of foot with a furlong to run. He dashed clear of the gallant Absolute Champion with Scintillation in third place to provide an Australian bred trifecta in the 1200 metre sprint.
"He's back to his best. It was disappointing he lost last time. There was a delay at the start and he became agitated in the gates and missed the kick. Gerald said the slightly slower track that day also worked against him," explained trainer Ricky Yiu.
The next assignment for Sacred Kingdom will be the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400 metres on March 16, where he will take on top class miler Good Ba Ba.
"I'm not worried about 1400m for him. I would just want him to draw a good gate because he settles well when he has cover. Good Ba Ba is a great horse but, dropping back in distance, I'm not sure if he will have the same kick as Sacred Kingdom. It will be an exciting race," Yiu added.
Ridden a perfect race by Gerald Mosse, Sacred Kingdom settled in fourth position and then unleashed a sizzling turn of foot with a furlong to run. He dashed clear of the gallant Absolute Champion with Scintillation in third place to provide an Australian bred trifecta in the 1200 metre sprint.
"He's back to his best. It was disappointing he lost last time. There was a delay at the start and he became agitated in the gates and missed the kick. Gerald said the slightly slower track that day also worked against him," explained trainer Ricky Yiu.
The next assignment for Sacred Kingdom will be the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400 metres on March 16, where he will take on top class miler Good Ba Ba.
"I'm not worried about 1400m for him. I would just want him to draw a good gate because he settles well when he has cover. Good Ba Ba is a great horse but, dropping back in distance, I'm not sure if he will have the same kick as Sacred Kingdom. It will be an exciting race," Yiu added.
A four year-old gelding by leading sire Encosta de Lago, Sacred Kingdom has been trained to perfection throughout his career by Ricky Yiu winning nine of 11 starts and amassing prizemoney of $HK16.5 million ($A2.3 million).
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.
Now rated amongst the elite turf sprinters of the world, the powerhouse bay was bred by the Calvert family, who will offer the half-brother to Sacred Kingdom by popular first season sire Fastnet Rock at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Consigned as Lot 51, he will be offered by Blue Gum Farm as agent for Kornong Stud Farm.
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.
Now rated amongst the elite turf sprinters of the world, the powerhouse bay was bred by the Calvert family, who will offer the half-brother to Sacred Kingdom by popular first season sire Fastnet Rock at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Consigned as Lot 51, he will be offered by Blue Gum Farm as agent for Kornong Stud Farm.
