Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Badel, who won the race for the third time, was victorious last season aboard Beauty Waves, who faded to sixth place under champion jockey Zac Purton in a tame defence of his crown.
The Frenchman said this time around he had pursued the ride on Fast Network as he rated his chances highly.
“I knew he’d be a very strong contender in this race, so I was chasing the ride, and I’m grateful that the connections and the trainer gave me the confidence of the ride,” Badel said.
“It’s always nice to deliver. I thought he won brilliantly. I probably hit the front too soon because of the draw, but he had plenty to offer. It was great.”
The five-year-old son of Wrote was ridden under a hold until the last 200m when he was unleashed by Badel and quickly loomed to the head of the field along the outside.
“He’s a late finisher, this horse,” Yip said, “So in the early stages, I told the jockey not to push him a lot. Just leave him alone, let him relax and then he will finish the last 300 (metres).
A triumphant Yip acknowledged the improvement in his charge and switched his focus to further Group success down the line.
“He’s a very honest horse. Since his last race (the Class 2 Tai Mo Shan Handicap, 1400m), his form has improved a lot in Conghua,” Yip said.
“I think at the end of the month, there is a Group Two over 1200 for him (Premier Bowl, Handicap). I think that’s my target for him,” Yip added.
Longer term, Fast Network is set to clash with fellow New Zealand bred Ka Ying Rising in December’s Gr.1 Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m).
The sprint feature was the sixth win of a 13-start career for Fast Network who has now earned HK$10.17m for owner Ng Hung Yau.
Bred by Highview Stud’s Kurtis Gillovic, Fast Network was purchased by Wexford Stables for $30,000 at the 2022 Karaka Book 2 Yearling Sales.
Originally named Donnie Malone, Fast Network won a trial at Te Rapa for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before his sale to Hong Kong.
Fast Network is one of eight individual winners from 11 runners in Hong Kong by Highview Stud stallion Wrote, a Group One winning son of High Chaparral. – NZ Racing Desk
