Australian bred sprinters had to bow to the might of undefeated Kiwi bred three year-old Courier Wonder, who highlighted the loss of his sire Sacred Falls when taking out the Group III Sha Tin Vase (1200m) on Sunday.
Trained by John Size and ridden by Joao Moreira, lightly weighted Courier Wonder was too good for Stronger (Not a Single Doubt) and Sky Field (Deep Field) winning by the best part of a length in a slick 1:08.16.
“I’m very excited (for next season), he’s the type of horse that everyone dreams to have,” Moreira said.
“We had a great opportunity to learn a bit more about him today, the pace was really genuine so he had a chance to settle behind others.
“When we first started turning he got a bit lost and wanted to run out today, shying away from the other horses, but as we progressed he started to relax, which is fantastic.”
John Size indicated the Group I LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at the 2021 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races is the long term goal for Courier Wonder this year, but he will have a short break following this pivotal success.
“That’s where we’re heading (Hong Kong Sprint),” he said.
“There are no races I would want to run him now and I think that he probably showed that he was looking for a break anyway – that was the feeling I got watching the race live.
“He’s got talent and we just have to manage it and try and keep him out of harm’s way and then turn him loose on a race track.”
Courier Wonder has now won five from five, proving an outstanding purchase for John Footee Bloodstock, snapped up for $150,000 from the Waikato Stud draft at Karaka Book 1.
Courier Wonder is a full brother to Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap runner-up Icebath, a winner of over $2.3million and is also a three-quarter brother to stakes-winner Nowyousee and stakes-placed Just Fabulous being from terrific producer Fabulist, a daughter of champion sire Savabeel.
Courier Wonder is the fifth stakes-winner for O’Reilly’s outstanding Group I miler Sacred Falls, who died at Waikato Stud prematurely in 2019 at age 10.
