The Nervous Witness bubble burst at Sha Tin on Sunday when the boom four year-old could only finish fourth in the Class Three sprint over 1000m with victory going to Star Turn three year-old Cordyceps Six.
Nervous Witness had won his two previous starts like a superstar and the David Hayes trained son of Star Witness was sent out as a $1.1 favourite to extend his unbeaten record to three, bue he was under pressure at the 350m mark as Cordyceps Six went through his gears.
Cordyceps Six surged to a two-length win in a slick 55.25 seconds with Nervous Witness a fading fourth.
“We kind of spoilt the party with the favourite, I’ve seen very few horses at that price since I’ve been in Hong Kong,” said winning trainer Richard Gibson.
“You’re never confident against a horse that’s 1.1 favourite – we’ve been reading great things about the favourite for a long time, so to win so easily it’s a feather in the horse’s cap.”
David Hayes immediately inspected Nervous Witness before saying: “Zac (Purton) said he felt lethargic when it was time to go, maybe the gut buster took more out of him than we thought. I’m in a bit of a state of shock.”
Cordyceps Six has three wins and a second from six starts.
A $140,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Sledmere Stud draft for N Lee, Cordyceps Six was a successful pinhook having been bought for just $25,000 out of the Newgate draft at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Bred by Henderson Racing and Cook Bloodstock, Cordyceps Six was foaled and raised at Newgate and is the first foal from unraced Hinchinbrook mare Sandcastles, a daughter of stakes-placed June Bug from the family of Group I winner Heat of the Moment.
Cordyceps Six is another smart winner for Vinery Stud’s Star Turn, who stands at a fee of $16,500.
