News

Encosta Stars in HK

3rd May 2010

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 1 May 2010

Reigning champion sire Encosta de Lago starred at Sha Tin on Saturday with classy sprinter Ultra Fantasy claiming his first stakes victory in the Sprint Cup HK Gr 2, while promising two year-old Admiration also opened his winning account.

The Ricky Yiu trained Ultra Fantasy (pictured) is racing in great heart for a seven year-old, turning in a career best performance to defeat Green Birdie by a short head with half a length back to Happy Zero in the 1200 metre sprint.

It was the third consecutive win in the race for Ricky Yiu, who has won it the past two years with stable star Sacred Kingdom, who is also by Encosta de Lago.

"He had a bad run last time because he lost his balance when the filly (Sweet Sanette) came past him, but this time we were able to take the lead and dictate, and that made the big difference," explained Yiu.

Riding to instructions, jockey Alex Lai, took Ultra Fantasy into the lead and was able to set soft fractions as none of his rivals took him on.

"Nobody pressed me so I had a bit left," said Lai, who felt the decisive moment came.

"500m from home when I'd been going very slow then went very quick and he was able to get the length he needed. I thought Brett Prebble (on Green Birdie) was coming to get me but we held on."

A $30,000 purchase from the Eldon Park Stud draft at the 2004 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Ultra Fantasy started his racing career in Victoria under the name of Quay Lago before transferring to Hong Kong as a four year-old, his overall record now eight wins and 14 placings from 46 starts..

Ultra Fantasy is one of six winners and was the last foal from handy producer Belle Anglaise (USA), a Sir Ivor daughter of US stakes-winner English Trifle. He is her first stakes-winner, although another of her daughters Sight is the dam of Group Three winner Precise Timing, who won 18 races and more than $900,000.

The griffin race was won in good style by two year-old Encosta de Lago colt Admiration, a $625,000 purchase from the Widden Stud draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Trained by John Moore and partnered by Darren Beadman, Admiration improved from his debut fourth on April 10, taking advantage of gate one to travel in second place throughout before kicking clear to win the 1200 metre sprint by more than a length as a hot favourite.

A beautiful athletic bay, Admiration (pictured as a yearling) is the first foal of stakes-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Provence, a three-quarter sister to Group One HK International Sprint winner Inspiration, who is also trained by John Moore.

Widden Stud consigned the full brother to Admiration to the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where he fetched $700,000 to the bid of Demi O’Byrne.

Encosta de Lago also enjoyed success with exciting first starter Smokn' Joey, who won the Listed MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.

Photo by HKJC: Seven-year-old runner Ultra Fantasy (No.4), with Alex Lai on board, defeats Green Birdie (No.3) and Happy Zero (No.1) to win the Sprint Cup (Hong Kong Group 2, 1200m) at Sha Tin Racecourse today.