News

Luger takes the Griffin Trophy in impressive style

30th Dec 2013

Hong Kong Jockey Club - Sunday, 29 December 2013

Luger packed too much ammunition for his rivals at Sha Tin Racecourse today, Sunday, 29 December, as the three-year-old cruised to victory in the Griffin Trophy, Hong Kong’s final feature race of 2013.

The 1400m contest is open to three-year-old horses imported in to Hong Kong as unraced Private Purchase Griffins or International Sale Griffins.

Luger was drawn widest in gate 10 but John Size’s charge had the gears to race wide in the early stages and was well-placed in mid-division under Douglas Whyte just as the field turned out of the back straight. The Caspar Fownes-trained Domineer cut out the early pace but he started to fade with 300m to go. Meanwhile, Whyte gradually wound up race favourite Luger approaching the home stretch and the Choisir gelding lengthened impressively under hands and heels to post a comfortable length and three-quarters victory.

Fantastic Kaka (120lbs), who was ridden by Weichong Marwing, made up ground to take second with Why Why (122 lbs) third, a further three quarters of a length away. The winning time was 1m 21.62s.

Winning trainer Size was not surprised with the impressive performance of his rising star, who went into the race rated 75, some 17lbs superior to the runner-up.

"He won it impressively,” said the current Hong Kong trainers’ premiership leader. “He promised to go on from the previous starts and he ran well today as expected. He's only a three-year-old and he is a horse with potential and we will see how he goes."

Luger, who is one of the Rising Stars for the 2013/14 season, has obtained three wins and two seconds from only five starts, winning more than HK$2 million in prize money for his connections.

Luger (Choisir x Miss Conception) was a $260,000 purchase by John Foote Bloodstock on behalf of John Size at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale