Hong Kong’s latest racetrack sprint sensation, the Aussie bred and sold Entrapment, made a triumphant return to the track on Saturday evening with a high class win in the Group Three Sha Tin Sprint Trophy (1000m).
In extending his perfect record to eight, Entrapment downed two of the region’s star gallopers Sacred Kingdom and Dim Sum.
A son of Halo Homewrecker, Entrapment hadn’t raced since winning at Sha Tin on late June last year.
The outstanding prospect was struck down by a mystery neurological problem in his left hind leg – something so rare the ailment hasn’t even a medical name.
The crowd cheered and connections celebrated when Entrapment went to the line with a soft half length win over Sacred Kingdom.
“When I saw Douglas (Whyte, rider) moving him up to the front, my heart was beating so hard I wasn’t aware of anything around me until my wife Patsy said – You’ve won,” owner Benson Lo Tak Wing beamed.
Whyte, who swept both feature races on the National Day card with Amibition Dragon winning the National Day Cup, was almost lost for superlatives.
“He can train a bit that John Size, can’t he?!”
“I can’t think of two horses I’ve ridden who’ve been more memorable,” the South African star jockey said.
“Especially coming back from a break like that. These are the horses you dream about.”
Entrapment, a bargain buy for $16,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, is the sole runner to date for his dam Miabondialee.
A daughter of Vettori, Miabondialee won two races at 1200 and 1550 metres – one of them at Moonee Valley.
Miabondialee in turn is from an unraced Palace Music half sister to Group One Karrakatta Plate winner Umah as well as the dam of Asian star Captain Obvious – a Malaysian star who recently won the Group Three Jumbo Jet Trophy in Singapore.
It is also the family of proven Group One winners including Visit and Response and fellow group winner Suzy Grey, Returntosender, Anyone Home, Northern Reward, Kenny’s World and All Square.
Winner: Entrapment
Breeding: Halo Homewrecker-Miabondialee (Vettori)
Race: HKJC The Sha Tin Sprint Trophy G3 (1000m)
Sold for: $16,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Trevennah (As Agent)
Buyer: New Zealand Bloodstock (As Agent)
Earnings: HK$5,543,250 (A$833,551)
Owner(s): Benson Lo Tak Wing
Trainer: John Size (Hong Kong)
PICS – Hong Kong Jockey Club.
