China’s May Day provided the backdrop for a memorable day of celebrations for members of the China Horse Club after each of the eight runners sent out on a feature race program delivered stirring performances and trophies for connections.
Two wins, a second, three thirds and a close up fourth at the Wuhan Jockey Club ensured members will long remember May Day 2016, as will the China Horse Club’s new head trainer Jarred Coetzee. It was an auspicious performance from the CHC China Racing Team under Coetzee’s care as they sounded an ominous warning that they will continue to be a force under his watch in the Year of the Monkey.
Shanghai Bund, winner of the 1400m race in Singapore
The club’s fortunes continued to rise later in the day when the aptly named Shanghai Bund saluted in Singapore. The James Peters trained Shanghai Bund showed tremendous grit to wear down two race leaders and secure his third career win in the Class Three Handicap (1400m) and take his prize money to above $S230,000 (RMB 1.1 million). But the day belonged to the CHC China Race Team who can rightly look forward to feature racing programs this summer and autumn.
China Horse Club’s new head trainer Jarred Coetzee
Coetzee, the South African born Australian citizen, has only been with the CHC Racing Team for three months. He sent out a small contingent of runners at a race meeting in late March to help ready performers for racing events in April and May but poor weather in Wuhan delayed his intended assault until this weekend. His patience proved to be well placed as both jockeys and racehorses delivered in rapid succession under brighter conditions.
“I am very grateful to our whole team for delivering today and I want to especially thank the owners for their patience after we had hoped to race over the last few weeks,” Coetzee said.
“I was very confident our horses would perform well today and they have delivered on that promise under the direction of our jockeys. There were also some performances which were above expectations this early in the season, especially from Everglades Island.
Everglades, winner of the 1200m race, jockey Yang Dongjun
“There is much to look forward to this year, not just from today’s winners Manus and Illustrate, but from the entire racing team.”
Perpetual performer Manus led home a first-second-fourth result for China Horse Club members in the feature Class Two Rating 85 – 65 Handicap (1800m) when outpunching stablemate Hales with Montjeu Minder a determined fourth. It was the second successive win for the outstanding Manus in 2016 and the third successive racing season that he has bested his rivals and returned to the winners’ enclosure. In the form he is currently in there is little reason to think he cannot continue doing so throughout the year.
But the day was not dominated by Manus alone. Earlier in the program it was the strikingly handsome Illustrate who was an explosive winner of the Class 3 Handicap (1200m). The former Irish based performer continues to mature every season and may be in for his most productive season yet. Illustrate franked his encouraging track work in recent weeks with a dominant display of sustained speed. Stablemate Do You Think worked home strongly for third. Fellow colour-bearers Everglades Island, Sturt and Flaming Aura were third, third and fourth respectively in their sprint contests.
Sturt, ridden by Ding Haijun, 3rd of the 1000m race
“Illustrate ran just as I had hoped. He flew home for second at his last start and while I think he will be better when he runs over a longer distance I kept him to 1200m and put the blinkers on him to keep him sharp enough for this race,” Coetzee said.
Illustrate, winner of the 1200m race, ridden by Liu San Ping
“Illustrate was a winner from the get-go [start]. He is a lovely type and I expect big things from him this year. He is very adaptable, he settles in his races and he can sprint when asked. He is in a great frame of mind right now as well. As soon as we got him back into his box he had his head down into his feed which is a great sign. I’m looking forward to getting him up to 1600m and 2000m this year.
“And Manus is just a fantastic horse. He gives you everything every time he runs. He is a great asset for our team and for our club.”
Manus
Hales
The successes of Illustrate and Manus also ensured it was a memorable day out for jockey Liu Sanping. The consistent Liu has previously had to share the limelight with the now Barbados based Qin Yong and Chen Li. With his countrymen representing the CHC China Dream Project overseas he showed his continuing maturity as a rider when delivering stirring rides to land members of the club its two most important trophies for the day.
CHC Team
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