Cha Siu Bao
Race Images Christchurch
A Hong Kong-based ownership syndicate is on target to complete a memorable New Zealand Group One double.
The colours of Hermitage Thoroughbreds were recently carried to victory by Craig Grylls aboard the Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Willie Cazals in the Livamol Classic and they successfully combined again with Cha Siu Bao at Ashburton on Saturday.
The Smart Missile colt produced a dominant performance to beat the older horses in the JJ Ltd Rating 65 Handicap to draw further attention to his Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas prospects.
"He's coming into it at the right time," O'Sullivan said. "He can be a bit tricky, but he's getting the job done well and he's continuing to improve."
Cha Siu Bao was placed in both of his starts last season and he returned this term with a first-up fourth at Te Rapa before a return to the Hamilton track last month was rewarded with his breakthrough victory.
Flown south in the company of his stablemate and fellow Guineas hope Sweet Leader earlier this week, Cha Siu Bao settled three back on the fence at Ashburton before Grylls angled him into the clear at the top of the straight.
The three-year-old was in control 200 metres from home and he surged clear to beat Boxachocolates by three and a quarter lengths.
While Cha Siu Bao has impressed in both of his wins over 1400 metres on dead going, O'Sullivan believes the best might yet be to come in the Riccarton feature, for which he has been cut from $14 to $9, on November 5.
"We've always thought a mile on a rock hard track would really suit him," he said.
By contrast, Cha Siu Bao's barn mate Keepherinmind excelled in the heavily rain-affected conditions at Rotorua to win the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race and give the stable an early double. – NZ Racing Desk.
The colours of Hermitage Thoroughbreds were recently carried to victory by Craig Grylls aboard the Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Willie Cazals in the Livamol Classic and they successfully combined again with Cha Siu Bao at Ashburton on Saturday.
The Smart Missile colt produced a dominant performance to beat the older horses in the JJ Ltd Rating 65 Handicap to draw further attention to his Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas prospects.
"He's coming into it at the right time," O'Sullivan said. "He can be a bit tricky, but he's getting the job done well and he's continuing to improve."
Cha Siu Bao was placed in both of his starts last season and he returned this term with a first-up fourth at Te Rapa before a return to the Hamilton track last month was rewarded with his breakthrough victory.
Flown south in the company of his stablemate and fellow Guineas hope Sweet Leader earlier this week, Cha Siu Bao settled three back on the fence at Ashburton before Grylls angled him into the clear at the top of the straight.
The three-year-old was in control 200 metres from home and he surged clear to beat Boxachocolates by three and a quarter lengths.
While Cha Siu Bao has impressed in both of his wins over 1400 metres on dead going, O'Sullivan believes the best might yet be to come in the Riccarton feature, for which he has been cut from $14 to $9, on November 5.
"We've always thought a mile on a rock hard track would really suit him," he said.
By contrast, Cha Siu Bao's barn mate Keepherinmind excelled in the heavily rain-affected conditions at Rotorua to win the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race and give the stable an early double. – NZ Racing Desk.