News

Dubai Group 1 Double For Easter Graduates

30th Mar 2014

Inglis Easter graduates Amber Sky and Sterling City had a night to remember at Meydan on Saturday winning Dubai's two biggest sprint races.

The Hong Kong trained duo showcased to the world the dominance of Australian bred speed. Amber Sky (Exceed And Excel x Truly Wicked) won the US$1 million Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint over the straight 1000m on turf, while Sterling City (Nadeem x So Gorgeous) took out the US$2 million Gr.1 Golden Shaheen over 1200m at his first try on Dubai's tapeta surface.

Both top level sprinters were bred in Australia and purchased by their Hong Kong connections at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Their Group 1 winning sires are also graduates of the Easter Sale.

Amber Sky broke the 1000m track record at Meydan when winning the Al Quoz in a super slick 56.21 seconds over Ahtoug and last year's winner Shea Shea.

“He’s a very special horse, he puts himself in the right spot up the front and when I asked him to kick today he found another gear. Other horses came at us near the finish but my horse was too good,” said jockey Joao Moreira.

It was a great triumph for trainer Ricky Yiu who purchased Amber Sky on behalf of owner Sammo Hung for $80,000 from Rubiton Bloodstock's draft at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

“I still remember seeing Amber Sky as a yearling and my first impression was that he would make a two-year-old. But he has just kept improving,” Yiu told the South China Morning Post.

The Exceed And Excel gelding already had a win at Hong Kong Group 1 level on his resume which has now expanded to seven wins and three placings from 14 starts and over A$1,600,000 in earnings to date.

The speedster was ridden to perfection by Joao Moreira. The magic man also partnered Sterling City to his famous victory in the very next race.

Sterling City came off the bit when he copped some kickback from the unfamiliar tapeta surface when racing behind the leaders in the Golden Shaheen. Once Moreira pulled his mount into clear galloping room in the straight Sterling City dashed past Rich Tapestry to victory in the valuable event.

“I’m ecstatic. It’s been a great team effort with my daughter Caroline the groom and son George the riding boy, so it’s a real family affair," said John Moore.

Moore also showed his gratitude to Henry Plumptre who selected Sterling City for owners CS & Gary Ling from Twin Palms Stud's draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $200,000.

Sterling City has raced 20 times for eight wins and nine placings with his prizemoney earnings now in excess of A$2,700,000.

Inglis graduates also scored wins at stakes level in Australia and South Africa on Saturday; Time For War at Rosehill, Every Faith at Morphettville and Majmu at Turrfontein.

Time For War (Snitzel x Lady Zabelia), a $56,000 2013 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale buy, kept his unbeaten record intact when winning the Gr.2 ATC Pago Pago Stakes over 1200m for two-year-olds.

Majmu (Redoute's Choice x Spontaneous), a $300,000 buy from the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, also took her record to two wins from two starts with victory in the Gr.3 Pretty Polly Stakes in Turffontein, South Africa.

Every Faith (Not A Single Doubt x Zephyria), a $130,000 purchase from the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, won the 1600m Listed SAJC Laelia Stakes at Morphettville in South Australia.

Yearlings by Not A Single Doubt, Redoute’s Choice, Snitzel and Exceed And Excel are among the 555 lots catalogued for the upcoming 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The three day sale will be held on 8, 9 and 10 April. CLICK HERE for the online catalogue or download it on the Inglis Sales iPad App

(Photo of Sterling City's connections c/- HKJC)