The feature event at Sha Tin on Thursday was the Group III National Day Cup (1000m) with Australian bred sprinters filling the trifecta led by the David Eustace trained Blue Point (IRE) gelding Colourful King.
A two time winner in Melbourne back in 2024 when trained by Matt Ellerton and racing as Blue Renegade, Colourful King was subsequently sold to Hong Kong and has made good progress through his grades.
A specialist at 1000m, Colourful King won his final two starts of last season and picked up where he left off.
Ridden by Zac Purton, Colourful King stalked the leader and then forged clear to win by more than a length over Magic Control (Sioux Nation (USA) and Bottomsuptogether (Shamus Award). They clocked a slick 55.72 seconds.
“It was pretty straightforward and painless,” Purton said.
“He was in the right spot and travelled well behind the right horse all the way. It was just a matter of him delivering, and he did that.”
Colourful Kling has the overall record of seven wins and nine placings from 22 starts.
“He hasn’t got a lot of options (at 1000m), so he needs to be right when he has them,” said David Eustace.
“So, it’s just nice to see him execute well. And he got in a bit of a battle and showed a bit of tenacity, too.”
Eustace believes Colourful King is at his best at 1000m, which limits his options and he outlined the plan for the remainder of the season.
“I think he probably runs in Group 2 over 1200 (metres) (G2 Premier Bowl Handicap) in a touch over three weeks (25 October),” Eustace said. “And then there’s a race in January, the Grade 3 down the straight (G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap, 1000m).”
Bred by Hesket Bloodstock, Colourful King is the last foal of outstanding producer Hard Rider, a stakes-placed daughter of Maroof (USA).
She had 14 foals, all of them raced and 12 won with Colourful King her fourth stakes-winner joining Big Chill, Hard Stride and Utah Saints.
Hard Rider is also the third dam of 2025 European Champion Sprinter Asfoora, another slick sprinter with a preferred distance of 1000m.
Colourful King is the 34th stakes-winner worldwide for Darley shuttler Blue Point (IRE).
