The Group III Premier Plate (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday was won by five year-old Olympic Glory (IRE) gelding Tourbillon Diamond.
Trained by Danny Shum, Tourbillon Diamond was bought as a yearling from the Magic Millions National Sale for just $7,000 and raced successfully in Australia as Eric the Eel when trained by Stuart Kendrick.
He won several races and was third in the 2020 Group I ATC Australian Derby won by Quick Thinker and was subsequently sold to Hong Kong.
Tourbillon Diamond was seventh beaten just two and a half lengths in the Hong Kong Derby last year and has been racing consistently this season winning the Group III Sa Sa Ladies Purse and finishing fourth and second at his two most recent runs in Group I races.
Tourbillon Diamond came with a well timed run to score a head win taking his overall record to seven wins and 11 placings from 33 starts.
“The horse is talented, he’s very brave – he’s got a good heart – and he’s a fantastic racehorse. He deserved a win like that, carrying 132 (pounds), I think that’s very impressive,” said winning rider Alexis Badel.
“I’ve been very lucky with this horse and I’m very grateful for the support from Danny and also the owners – they have given me a lot of confidence.”
Tourbillon Diamond will now be set for the 2022 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) after a break with Shum electing to split both he and Romantic Warrior at the 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races in December.
“He likes Alexis and Alexis likes him as well! His rating is quite high, we’ll try our best to maintain his form. I won’t run him over 2000 metres (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup), probably the 2400 (G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase). Because I plan to run Romantic Warrior over 2000 metres and he can’t beat him,” Shum said.
Bred by Arrowfield in partnership, Tourbillon Diamond was sold in the Arrowfield draft at the Magic Millions National Yearling sale for $7,000 to Neil Douglas.
He is a half-brother to stakes-placed Perfect Match and Schiffer being the best of six winners from unraced Montjeu (IRE) mare Modave (NZ), a sibling to Group I winner Sharvasti and Group III winners Shastri and Bhandara.
Modave has changed hands several times in recent years most recently selling for $7,500 on Inglis Digital back in July and has missed at her past two seasons at stud.
Tourbillon Diamond is one of 13 stakes-winners for Choisir’s Group I winning son Olympic Glory (IRE), who shuttled to Arrowfield for three seasons.
