Aussies dominate HKIR in the racing Twitter wrap
THE Hong Kong International Races have been run and won and while the thoroughbreds lacked an Australian flavour to them this season, the hoops got to ply their trade at Sha Tin.
Surprise, surprise – they took out a number of key races in the final significant international event of the year.
Aside from the racing in Sha Tin, there was plenty of gallops action down under, including the Pakenham Cup and the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic.
Let’s take a look at what got Twitter talking this weekend.
Purton, Rawiller share in the Group 1 spoils at Sha Tin
It was a race that the great man had targetted before the event, but winning the Hong Kong Cup was the last box Zac Purton needed to tick before completing the Grand Slam of HKIR races.
And didn’t he do it in style.
Taking his mount Time Warp to the front of the field in the Cup, the superstar jockey worked his horse to the line in a brilliant display, holding out short-priced favourite Werther in the process.
Time Warp with jockey Zac Purton won Hong Kong Cup. #TimeWarp #ZacPurton #HKIR #HKcup pic.twitter.com/saC5yOz0OZ
— Tomoya Moriuchi (@j_taro) December 10, 2017
And the praise came thick and fast for the gun hoop.
Brilliant ride by Zac
— Rodney Colin Gomez (@Rodney2351965) December 10, 2017
Absolute GUN rider
— Craig Butler (@butlerh101) December 10, 2017
Even the great man’s competitors took a moment to acknowledge Purton on another successful HKIR campaign.
Congratulations @zpurton @nashhot Derek and Ryan for taking out the big ones yesterday. All great rides and well deserved wins #HKIR
— Tommy Berry (@TommyBerry21) December 10, 2017
Purton now sits alongside racing’s greatest ever to don the silks in Hong Kong after taking out all four Group 1 races throughout the Hong Kong International Races.
The HKIR Grand Slam completed on 4 local horses ????Well done @zpurton ???????? #HKIR #HKracing pic.twitter.com/gsup3dZMj0
— Donald Lee (@LeeMingDonald) December 11, 2017
Purton wasn’t the only jockey who got the job done in a big event.
Nash Rawiller – who piloted Mr Stunning to a brilliant win in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint – had one of the more emotional wins of the carnival.
Nash Rawiller's dad in teaes after Mr Stunning's HK Sprint win #shatin #HKIR pic.twitter.com/K5NjTEmjYa
— Alan Aitken (@chapeauxx) December 10, 2017
It was Rawiller’s first success in a group 1 race in Hong Kong.
In a nice piece of history, Rawiller beat his close friend Olivier Doleuze – who was aboard D B Pin – which also handed star trainer John Size his first-ever quinella in the Sprint.
Mr Stunning wins the HK SPRINT at short odds. 43yo Jockey Nash Rawiller, thrilled to get his international Gp 1 in HK, with all his family here for the day. Beats his good mate Olivier Doleuze on DB Pin in the fast time of 1.08.4
— Darren Flindell (@hkdarren) December 10, 2017
Rawiller’s win was a popular one.
The photo and accompanying description below is exactly why we love the sport of kings.
This was a great moment. Sarah and Campbell watching Nash come back to the winners circle after winning the HKIR sprint. Cambo ran from his position on the fence at home to give his dad a hug. Moments like these are why we embrace this sport @nashhot pic.twitter.com/ojd5eB3SCM
— Paul Robinson (@PaulRobHK) December 10, 2017
We already cannot wait for next year’s HKIR.
Horror bump at the beginning seals Black Heart Bart’s Kingston Town fate
The great gelding was meant to be our get out of jail card following a bloodbath on the punt, but Darren Weir’s star galloper was all but beaten 100m into the Group 1 feature.
If Pakenham wasn't enough the heavily backed Black Heart Bart gets flattened at the start and never fires
Even Tom Melbourne didn't place ?
— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) December 9, 2017
After an early tussle for the lead – which subsequently lead to the suspension of star hoop Willie Pike – saw Black Heart Bart get checked badly, resulting in the horse drifting back through the field.
Holiday for Pikey, just in time for Xmas…….#blackheartbart #poleaxed
— Clayton Martin (@ClaytonMartin15) December 9, 2017
To say the punters were peeved would be an understatement.
If you were on Black Heart Bart today you'd be shattered he got cleaned up at the start. Lucky to be alive #KingstonTownClassic #HorseRacing
— MDS (@leighoneills) December 9, 2017
That feeling when you know a race is over 100m from the start #BlackHeartBart #interference #spellplease
— Shane Britter (@shanecrab) December 9, 2017
It was a devastating result for a horse that was carrying the hopes of just about everyone on the east coast.
Not if you're on black heart Bart who got smashed into the fence
— Kevin cattell (@CattelK) December 9, 2017
Even though the impediment was there for all to see, even Bart’s competitor didn’t want to hear of it.
Went for a swim with Black Heart Bart today. Never met a bloke who talks about his misfortune more. #TomFromMelbourne
— Tom Melbourne (@tommelbourne2) December 11, 2017
If there’s a horse that knows about bad luck in Australia, it’s Tom Melbourne.