Emerging talent Sky Field impresses

Sky Field scored a dazzling victory in the Class 3 Hung Hom Handicap (1200m) in Hong Kong on Sunday, demonstrating an electrifying turn-of-foot in the straight to make a big statement for jockey Joao Moreira and trainer Caspar Fownes.

The Deep Field four-year-old, who was sold out of Trelawney Stud's 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 draft, didn’t enjoy the easiest of passages but once clear in the straight he was able to stretch out and win with plenty in hand to cement his status as a leading contender for this season’s three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

“He’s special, he really excites me in the morning and he’s a pleasure to work with because he’s still raw - there’s so much more,” Fownes said.

The lightly raced talent secured his second win at his fourth start, notably after incurring an eye-catching 14-point ratings rise off the back of his last win.

“I always knew he was something special from the early days, he had a bit of a wow factor but he’s not straightforward - he’s a horse that has problems. He’s always consistently got an issue here and there so we have to keep him sound is the key, if we can do that then he’ll do the rest,” Fownes said.

The flashy chestnut broke from gate eight and unwound a strong finish to win by a decisive length and a half.  Joao Moreira spoke of the four-year-old’s potential post-race: “He’s a classy horse, a very classy horse, he’s got it in him,” Moreira said. -HKJC