The Group II Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin on Monday produced an Aussie bred trifecta with six year-old Rubick gelding Light Years Charm claiming his second Black Type success when beating Patch of Theta (Zoustar) and My Wish (Flying Artie).
Trained by David Eustace and ridden by Karis Teetan, Light Years Charm was sent off at 8-1 and took an inside split between runners to charge to the front after turning for home and was strong to the line winning by a length and a half.
Light Years Charm rises to the occasion! ?? @EustaceRacing scores his first Group 2 win in Hong Kong as the galloper seals a treble on Monday at Sha Tin under Karis Teetan in the Sha Tin Trophy... #LoveRacing | #HKracing https://t.co/mem6puLeCA
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 19, 2026
David Eustace was thrilled to take the win with Light Years Charm, who has the overall record of eight wins and six placings from 22 starts with the first of those wins at Lismore in Australia before his purchase for Hong Kong.
His trainer is planning ahead to HK International Day for Light Years Day, who keeps improving and was one of three winners on the card for David Eustace.
“It’s been a good day,” Eustace said. “I thought he could run well, given the draw and the weight.
“We’ve been working back from December – I was keen to target the (G1 LONGINES) Hong Kong Cup (2000m). I feel he’ll stay that well. I think at level weights over a mile at Group 1 level, he’d probably find a few too sharp. But pulling up, he wasn’t having too much of a blow. I think he appears to be a natural stayer and at this stage we’ll still go in that direction.
“Karis said it went very smoothly and he got into a lovely rhythm. I was keen to hold the fence; he’s a big horse that needs momentum and is not a horse who wants to be held up. I just felt trying to angle out and ask for a turn of foot; he’s not really that type.”
Karis Teetan also beleieves a longer trip will suit Light Years Charm.
“It’s good to get a big win,” Teetan said. “David was really confident that this horse was going to run very well with this weight on his back.
“I trialled him at Happy Valley and, honestly, he gave me the feel of a good horse, and I think he’s showed that today. He had a good run through, but I must say, when I needed him, he responded well and he ran all the way through the line.”
Light Years Charm was initially purchased for just $3,750 from the Amarina Farm draft at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale and is the best of three winners from four foals to race from Dancer’s Rose, a winning grand-daughter of Group III winner Hula Wonder.
The family has also produced Group winners Sugar Bella, Gumdrops and stakes-winner Willy Jimmy. Dancer’s Rose is no longer an active producer.
Light Years Charm is one of 17 stakes-winners for Rubick, who was sold in 2025 to stand at stud in China and he has two studs remaining at stud in Australia in Yes Yes Yes and Jacquinot.
