Cerise Cherry wins easily
The Sandown Stud bred Cerise Cherry scored his sixth win at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday.
The gallant 8yo gelding took top honours under Zac Purton in the HK$2 000 000 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Handicap.
In winning the 1200m race by three parts of a length from Best Eleven and Destined For Glory, Cerise Cherry added further to his impressive prize money of over HK$13 000 000.
The Hong Kong season kicked off on Sunday with a record crowd and turnover at Sha Tin racecourse. 66 257 spectators showed up at the New Territories oval, with betting turnover up 11 percent to HK$1.032 billion. That’s about US$133.8 million.
A R220 000 buy at the 2007 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, Cerise Cherry was a top-class performer in South Africa when trained by Paul Matchett. The gelded son of Goldkeeper won or placed in ten graded stakes races, and was one of the best of his generation.
In Hong Kong, Cerise Cherry’s six victories include two in the Premier Bowl, which he won as a Group 3 in 2010 and a Group 2 in 2012.
He is one of 32 stakes winners for his sire Goldkeeper, whose offspring include four grade one winners – and another top-class international sprinter – Tiza.
Cerise Cherry will be aimed again at the Gr 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December.
He ran second to Japanese superstar Lord Kanaloa last year and trainer Derek Cruz is eyeing a repeat. “He ran very well last year and I’ll get him freshened up again for those big races,” Cruz said.
