Prominent Australian jockey Ethan Brown made a dream start to his short-term stint in Hong Kong when he guided Shooting To Top to victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
In his first meeting in the city, the 11-time Group One winner struck with his third ride when he lifted the heavily-backed Shooting To Top to a narrow win in the Class Four Geranium Handicap (1,650m).
“It was great, it’s obviously something we all strive to do – to get the opportunity is one thing, but to get a winner straight away is another thing,” Brown said.
“It’s a very quick and tight track, you have to be on your A game, but I’m picking it up as I go and it was certainly a track I wanted to conquer. The atmosphere is great – it’s a good atmosphere and good feeling; hopefully we’ll make plenty more.”
Brown-lamped from $13.8 to $6.25, Shooting To Top landed in the box seat after Brown sent him forward early from gate seven.
The 26-year-old rider took an inside run in the straight and the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained gelding fought tenaciously to beat Glorious Journey by a short head.
Shooting To Top wasn’t beaten far when seventh on debut at Sha Tin and was trapped wide without cover throughout when sixth at the Valley before his maiden triumph.
“The horse felt great, Cody had him nice and fit and he bounced well from the gates. We were able to get a good trailing position and had a very smooth run – Cody had him in perfect order and I was the benefactor,” Brown said.
“I just wanted to get a winner early and we’ve been able to tick that box; it gets the monkey off my back and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead. I feel relieved and just feel happy that I’m able to get a winner early – as it’s not easy to do.”
Brown, who will ride in Hong Kong until the season finale on July 15, is booked to ride Sunlight Power in Sunday’s Group One Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
However, the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained gelding has to pass veterinary inspections on Thursday and Saturday after he was found to have developed a capped elbow in his left front leg.
Elsewhere at the Valley, Zac Purton warmed up for Sunday’s FWD Champions Day meeting with a double aboard Vigor Eye and Thunder Prince.
Purton and trainer David Hayes, who will team up with superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m), combined with Vigor Eye when the consistent sprinter broke through at start six in the first section of the Class Four Lavender Handicap (1,200m).
Sent out the $2.3 favourite, the Time Test four-year-old went one better than last start at Sha Tin when he beat a game pacesetter Captain Link by a short head in a close finish.
“He’s a consistent horse. I thought he might have won a bit easier, but he got the job done,” Hayes said.
“If you look at him, he’s had six starts and has been in the money five times, so I think he’s a consistent horse who will win again in this class.
“Zac said he was very green tonight, he was still learning, which is why I think he could get better.”
Thunder Prince finally delivered the goods at start 22 in the city for trainer Jamie Richards and connections, capitalising on gate one to bolt in by two lengths in the Class Four Lusitano Challenge Cup (1,200m).
“He’s a 21-start maiden and he had never won a race before he arrived, either. He was Group placed in Australia, but thankfully the owners have been very patient and they deserve every piece of success they get with this horse because he’s been here a while and he’s eaten up a few tickets along the way,” Richards said.
“So, glad that he could get his head in front and sometimes you never know – he might get a bit of confidence from that and go on with it now.”
Jubilant Winner sealed doubles for Richards and jockey Alexis Badel with an all-the-way success in the Class Three Roselle Handicap (1,200m). The brace brought up 300 Hong Kong wins for Badel, who also struck on Me Tsui Yu-sak’s The Auspicious on Wednesday night.
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