Photo: HKJC
New Zealand-bred gelding Super Football scored his third victory in Hong Kong on Thursday when winning the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.
The Jimmy Ting-trained four-year-old settled midfield on the rail for jockey Matthew Poon before he was able dribble his charge into clear running room down the straight and found the lead with 100m to go, and held on for a brave win.
It was Poon’s first ride on the son of More Than Ready and he was pleased with his winning effort.
“He got a nice draw (barrier one) and we were able to sit a lot closer than last start, so I thought before the race he would have a chance,” Poon said.
“I was able to follow Zac Purton (Charity Go), he was one off the fence in front of me and I was in a really good position to be taken into the race.
“It really worked out for us and I was able to get the run. I had to wait for a little while, but my horse had a light weight (53kg) and I think he proved he’s good enough in Class 2, I think he can run further distance, too.”
Super Football was initially purchased out of Trelawney Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling sale draft by Armourcroft Stables for $100,000 before going through the Karaka sales ring later that year in Riversley Park’s Ready To Run Sale draft where he was purchased by Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry for $240,000.
He was subsequently trained in New Zealand by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, for whom he raced as Holy Mongolemperor, and placed in three of his seven starts before being sold to Hong Kong interests.