Trainer Peter Ho was not surprised when Dashing Triumph defied market expectations to win the Tung Wan Shan Plate (1000m) for Griffins at Sha Tin on Sunday under Dylan Mo despite the El Roca gelding starting at 27-1 on the basis of a modest trial last month.
The debutant New Zealand-bred winner was Ho’s first Griffin race winner for 23 years.
“This (winning) was what I was expecting because before the race I spoke with the owner and said ‘This is a nice horse, he does everything alright, no headaches for the trainer and he’s always willing to try’,” Ho said.
“After his 800-metre trial (on 10 May), he woke up – he knows the game already – and this was not a strong field, that’s why this is not unexpected at all.”
Dashing Triumph was bred by Gerry Harvey and is by Westbury Stud stallion El Roca, who is the sire of four winners in Hong Kong this season, headlined by high-class sprinter Lucky Patch. - NZ Racing Desk
