News

Admiration wins Chairman’s Trophy in Hong Kong

1st Apr 2012

Improving four-year-old Admiration defeated a top class field in the Hong Kong Group Two Chairman’s Trophy over 1600m at Sha Tin on Sunday, continuing champion trainer John Moore’s outstanding record with gallopers purchased from Widden Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

ADMIRATION ($625,000 2009 Easter, 4h Encosta de Lago-Provence) settled in fourth under Aussie jockey Brett Prebble and once balanced up into the straight the son of Encosta de Lago lengthened stride impressively to pass Hong Kong Mile winner Able One then hold off the late finish of short-priced favourite Glorious Days.

Sunday’s victory took Admiration’s earnings past HK$7million with his seventh win. The impressive entire has also been placed a further six times in his 19 career starts.

Replay of the HK-2 Chairman’s Trophy can be viewed on the Hong Kong Jockey Club website HERE

Purchased by George Moore Bloodstock for $625,000 from the draft of Widden Stud at Easter, Admiration is the first foal of stakes winning Redoute’s Choice mare Provence, which is a three-quarter sister to 2008 Group One Hong Kong Sprint winner Inspiration.

Inspiration was also trained by John Moore, after being purchased for his owners Mr & Mrs Hui Sai Fun, who also race Admiration, for $420,000 from Widden Stud at the 2005 Easter Sale.

A year later John purchased HK-1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup winner Happy Zero from Easter for $425,000, also from the draft of Antony Thompson’s Widden Stud.

Widden Stud has a strong draft of 41 yearlings catalogued for the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, including a half-brother to Admiration. The colt by More Than Ready will be offered as Lot 343 on Day Two of the three day auction, which runs from Tuesday April 10 to Thursday April 12.

Admiration’s super sire Encosta de Lago is represented with 47 yearlings at next month’s Easter Sale, including two from mares by Redoute’s Choice just like Admiration.

The complete 579 lot Easter catalogue can be viewed online at www.inglis.com.au, while hard-copy catalogues can be requested from Inglis’ Sydney office on +61 2 9399 7999 or via email to catalogue@inglis.com.au

Photo from Hong Kong Jockey Club