Trainer John Size once again showed the depth of the top-line sprinters in his stable as he prepared the first three horses home in the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m). This time, however, it was emerging star D B Pin (Darci Brahma) in the spotlight, with the five-year-old claiming his maiden Group One win at Sha Tin on Sunday under Olivier Doleuze.
D B Pin had finished a neck second to fellow Size trainee Mr Stunning at his first attempt at the big time in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) last month. On this occasion, though, D B Pin had a neck to spare at the line over stablemates Mr Stunning (Exceed and Excel) and Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook), who dead-heated for second. The final time was 1m 09.64s.
“He’s so consistent,” Size said. “He’s honest and he’s diligent, he likes to do his job. He’s made incremental improvement every time he’s gone to the races, but particularly this season. He’s a naturally fast horse, but this season he’s learnt to settle – under Olivier’s guidance, he’s certainly come on and puts most of his energy into the last 400m, which is winning races for him.”
For Doleuze, it was a welcome victory. It was the 45-year-old’s first international Group One since Rich Tapestry’s win in the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (1200m) in October, 2014 and his first local top-line feature since Eagle Regiment won the Centenary Sprint Cup when it was run over the straight 1000m in 2013.
“It means a lot to me, if you had told me I would win a Group One this year when it is so hard to stay on a horse in a Class 5, I wouldn’t have believed you!” said Doleuze. “Hong Kong is very competitive, I’ve been here a long time and people here like new faces. That’s just the game, there are no hard feelings. I’ve had my time, but I still enjoy it, and when you get the chance to sit on a horse like this it makes it all worthwhile.
“Since I’ve been on D B Pin’s back, John has improved him a lot. His run in the Sprint in December was very good and today, I was hoping for confirmation. It seems that the horse is still heading the right way.”
D B Pin holds an entry for the Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night, 31 March, and Size indicated that a trip to the Middle East could be next on his agenda.
“We’ll see how he goes, he’s obviously got the rating to travel now and he’s a high-rated sprinter so he’s got the figure where he could be competitive,” Size said. “That race is on dirt, he’s won a race here on the dirt track and we’ll certainly consider it.”
Doleuze, who partnered Rich Tapestry to a number of admirable runs on the dirt around the world, believes D B Pin could measure up in the US$2 million feature.
“The good thing with this horse is I think he is very versatile,” the Frenchman said. “I’m not the trainer but I really hope he goes to Dubai and to the dirt race. I’ve been on some very good dirt horses before and he really gives me a great feeling, as good as any of them.”
Size had plenty of praise for both 1.8 favourite Mr Stunning and young gun Beat The Clock, who recorded a race-fastest last 400m of 21.53s – the second-fastest last sectional of the season, only bettered by G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) winner Seasons Bloom in September.
“You couldn’t criticise Mr Stunning,” he said. “He’s won three top sprints in Hong Kong in a row and it’s very difficult to do that, usually they just take it in turns. Today, he’s been quite brave in defeat. He’s quite a gallant racehorse, as you can see he’s extremely honest, and his run was full of merit, as usual.”
“Beat The Clock is a four-year-old, he’s a bit younger than these horses. He’s got the talent so it’s just a matter of whether he can develop that in the next 12 months.”
D B Pin was purchased by Queensland bloodstock agent John Foote for $200,000 from the Oaks Stud draft during the Premier session of the 2014 NZB National Yearling Sale Series. The Oaks Stud will offer a Fastnet Rock half-sister to D B Pin as Lot 479 on Day 3 of the Book 1 session at this year’s Karaka sale.
Mr Stunning was sold out of the same sale by Lyndhurst Farm for $250,000, while Beat The Clock is a graduate of Prima Park’s 2015 Ready To Ru Sale draft when knocked down to Bill Mitchell for $200,000.