Exciting Hong Kong trained sprinter Wellington became the fourth Group I winner for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard when beating fellow Aussie bred sprinters Computer Patch (Exceed and Excel) and Sky Field (Deep Field) in the Group I Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Trained by Richard Gibson and ridden by Alexis Badel, Wellington charged home to win by a length and a half taking his overall record to seven wins from 10 starts.
Wellington produced a powerful finish from midfield, running his last 400 metres in a sizzling 21.66secs in becoming just the fourth four-year-old to win the coveted sprint, now a Group I prize – following Silent Witness (2004), Sacred Kingdom (2008) and Ivictory (2018).
His trainer will now afford the horse the opportunity to match the Hong Kong sprinting icons Silent Witness and Sacred Kingdom by aiming at the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) – a race twice won by each of the former stars after Chairman’s Sprint Prize success.
“He’ll have a good rest and we’ll see you here in December,” said Gibson who was delighted to see Wellington win for loyal owners.
“It’s a great win for Hong Kong,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see the fans back today and I’m just delighted for the owners. They were one of the first owners in my stable when I came here. They’ve been very loyal and supportive and it’s a great satisfaction to source and deliver such a great horse. He came from Australia and he was sourced from the trials.
“I always thought we would probably get to the winning enclosure but the road is a little bit rocky, life’s never easy but it’s great to get there in the end.”
Wellington bounced back from an uncharacteristic failure in the G2 Sprint Cup (1200m) on 5 April.
“It’s difficult to hide your disappointment on those days but we had faith in our team and in our horse and he delivered today.
“As a trainer, you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth. We’re very confident in what we do with our horses in Hong Kong and a win like today, hopefully we can build up our stable strength,” he said.
Wellington was a $70,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kia Ora Stud draft for Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm and was bred by Kia Ora and partners.
He is the first winner from Group II placed More Than Ready (USA) mare Mihiri, who comes from a European female family featuring Group I winners Cerulean Sky and Moonstone and a raft of stakes-winning stayers such as Honoulu and Master of Reality.
The current yearling from Mihiri, a filly by Star Witness, was sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds at Inglis Classic this year for $85,000 to Tricolours Racing and Syndication.
Mihiri was covered again last spring by All Too Hard after missing the year before.
Wellington is the 20th stakes-winner and fourth Group I winner for All Too Hard, who stands this spring at a fee of $33,000.
