News

Hong Kong Stakes-Winner for Magic Albert

2nd Oct 2012

*Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Monday, 1 October 2012

The first Black Type race of the new Hong Kong racing season was run on Monday, the Sha Tin Sprint HK Gr 3 won in fine style by talented Magic Albert gelding Vital Flyer, who was well known when racing in Australia earlier in his career as Marchinski.

Prepared by Michael Chang, Vital Flyer held off all challengers to win the 1000 metre dash by three-quarters of a length over Fastnet Rock five year-old Captain Sweet, clocking a brisk 56.15 seconds for the trip.

Vital Flyer (pictured HKJC) had a big pull in the weights over the runner-up and used it to advantage to post his best win since transferring to Hong Kong.

"I'm very happy with that,” said Chang. "Before the race, I was pretty confident because he had the right weight and the straight 1000m is what he wants. He finished fourth in a Group 1 race here before – he only carried 113lbs and he's in top form. I didn't think the others could give him that much weight.”

Winner of the Group III STC Frederick Clissold Stakes in Sydney as a three year-old under the name of Marchinski, the now seven year-old Vital Flyer has the overall record of seven wins and nine placings from 40 starts.

Vital Flyer is a half-brother to stakes-winner Shepishir and stakes-placed Theophorus being from good producer Elishir. Vital Flyer was passed-in for $85,000 as a yearling at the 2007 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale. His pedigree as a yearling can be viewed HERE

He is one of 15 stakes-winners for Magic Albert, who is covering a full book at Yarraman Park at a fee of $22,000.