Karaka Graduates First Four in G1 HK International Sprint

Karaka graduates filled all of the first four placings in Sunday's HK$20 million Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin, with defending champion Mr Stunning (Exceed and Excel) again leading the charge.

Mr Stunning, who was bought for $250,000 at the 2014 Premier Sale, reaffirmed his claim to Hong Kong sprinting supremacy with an exact repeat of last year's result. Again he narrowly defeated his gallant rivalD B Pin(NZ) (Darci Brahma), who was a $200,000 purchase at the same Sale.

The third placegetter this year wasBeat The Clock(Hinchinbrook), who was bought for $200,000 from the 2015 Ready to Run Sale, whileLittle Giant(NZ) (Swiss Ace) was fourth. He was passed in at the 2014 Select Sale and began his career in New Zealand under the name Blackcrown.

Mr Stunning, trained by Frankie Lor and ridden by Karis Teetan, stalked the leaders in third position before surging to the front 200 metres from the finish. D B Pin chased hard on his inside, with Beat The Clock flashing home out wide, but Mr Stunning held them out by three-quarters of a length. The time was a fast 1:08.85.

"I just knew when I pressed the button he was going to go," Teetan said. "He felt so good. He was really so relaxed underneath me today."

Mr Stunning has now had 22 starts for 11 wins, eight placings and HK$45.84 million in prize-money, which is the equivalent of NZ$8.53 million – more than 34 times his purchase price.

Runner-up D B Pin, a close relative to last season's Karaka Million winner and champion New Zealand two-year-oldAvantage(Fastnet Rock), has earned in excess of 19 times his purchase price.