Winner: Viva Pronto (Catcher in the Rye-Steel Shuffle)
Race: HKJC Hong Kong Macau Trophy G3 (1400m)
Sold for: $140,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Robyn Wise
Buyer: Scone Bloodstock Services
Earnings: HK$3.7 million
Owner(s): Dr S Ho
Trainer: Gary Moore (Macau)
Macau star Viva Pronto upstaged the locals in a brilliant all the way win in Saturday’s Group Three HK$2.3 million The Hong Kong Macau Trophy (1400m) at Sha Tin.
Racing in Hong Kong for the first time, the outstanding Macau sprinter showed speed throughout as he got home to win the feature by a half length.
In the straight he looked a sitting shot for his rivals as the more fancied runners Aashiq and Yummy Spirits raced alongside – but under the urgings of Fausto Durso it was Viva Pronto who pulled clear again near the post.
The Gary Moore trained son of Catcher in the Rye notched up career win number nine at just his 15th start. He’s earned over HK$3.7 million (A$525,017).
Magic Millions Managing Director David Chester said Viva Pronto’s win was a great result for not only the Gold Coast based sales company, but the Australian industry as a whole.
“Gary Moore rang me after the race and not surprisingly he’s very excited,” Chester said.
“We’ve been telling Australia about Viva Pronto for some time now and this result proves that he’s a galloper of great quality.”
“For a couple of years he’s been the star of Macau and to win this big race in Hong Kong is a great result for Gary and his team.”
“Viva Pronto was bred in Australia was sold through Magic Millions as a yearling and then as a Horses in Training two-year-old.”
Moore, through his good friend and leading Sydney based bloodstock agent John Hutchinson, purchased Viva Pronto for $140,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale at the Gold Coast.
The result is another great advertisement to the team at Washpool Thoroughbreds, who purchased Viva Pronto for $20,000 from the draft of Robyn Wise at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
When they resold him at the country’s premier breeze up style sale they also sold a son of Street Cry for $64,000.
Purchased by Laurence Eales, the son of Street Cry is Shocking – November’s famous Melbourne Cup winner.
“To have sold one of the best sprinters in Macau and one of the best stayers in Australia in the same draft is a great achievement,” Chester summed up.
