Talented Zoustar three year-old Inner Flame made it four wins from five starts when he saluted at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Trained by Douglas Whyte and ridden by Joao Moreira, Inner Flamehad a tough run after drawing wide, but was strong to the line to win the 1200 metre Class 3 handicap by half a length as favourite.
Inner Flame won his first three races before suffering a reversal last time out, but came back from a two-month break with a tenacious win.
“He did that the hard way, which he had to do from that gate (11); he was attacked early and he had to hold on and fight, with horses coming at him at the end – only good horses can do what he’s done,” Moreira said.
“I’m very pleased to be sitting on such a nice horse for the Douglas Whyte stable. Douglas’ patience has paid off, he was going to run him another day but decided to wait and I really think that patience was the key to this horse being able to come back and win again. He’s a nice horse with a bright future.”
A $55,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase from the Riversdale draft for Horse Ventures and is one of six winners from good producer Assertive Sound, a full sister to Group I winners Assertive Lad and Assertive Lass, the dam of Group I winning sire Reset.
His sire Zoustar is building a successful record in Hong Kong with four winners from six runners.
Zoustar stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $121,000 this spring.
