The South African racing and breeding industry had reason to celebrate on Tuesday when the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred Ezra saluted at Sha Tin racecourse for trainer Tony Millard, jockey Aldo Domeyer and owner William Mocatta.
Aldo Domeyer – steered the favourite to victory(Pic – Chase Liebeberg Photogrraphy)
Sent off the 27-10 favourite, four-year-old Ezra picked up his first Hong Kong win when he captured the Nanning Handicap over 1400m in emphatic style.
The gelding romped home to score by three and a quarter lengths, while drawing comfortably in the final furlong.
Second twice previously in his brief Hong Kong stint, Ezra looks set for more Hong Kong success judging by the ease of his win on Tuesday.
What made Tuesday’s win all the more satisfying is that not only is Ezra bred in South Africa, but both his trainer and jockey hail from this country as well.
A R2 200 000 buy from the 2017 National Yearling Sale, Ezra is a son of the Avontuur based triple Gr1 winner Oratorio and the top-class race mare Emerald Beauty.
The latter, a daughter of Equalize and from the same family as champions Elusive Fort and Empress Club, won three times in South Africa and the UAE, with Emerald Beauty’s wins including a triumph in the 2003 Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas where she accounted for subsequent Horse Of The Year, and multiple Gr1 winner, Ilha Da Vitoria.
