Winner: Viva Pronto (Catcher in the Rye-Steel Shuffle)
Race: MJC Macau Sprint Trophy G3 (1200m)
Sold for: $140,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Robyn Wise
Buyer: Scone Bloodstock Services
Earnings: HK$4,286,450
Owner(s): Dr S Ho
Trainer: Gary Moore (Macau)
Outstanding Macau sprinter Viva Pronto added another feature win to his first class racing record when he romped to victory in Sunday’s HK$750,000 Group Three Macau Sprint Trophy (1200m).
Prepared by master horseman Gary Moore, Viva Pronto didn’t give his rivals a look in – bolting away under Fausto Durso to win handsomely.
At the post the classy four-year-old held a three and a quarter length margin over Wealthy Man, while Golden Star was another neck back in third place.
Viva Pronto made headlines two runs back when he won the Group Three HK$2.3 million Hong Kong Macau Trophy in Hong Kong.
He returned to Macau and last start beat all but Golden Star in the Chairman’s Challenge Cup.
Viva Pronto is the winner of 10 of his 17 starts and the gelded son of Catcher in the Rye has earned over HK$4.28 million (approx A$600,000).
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 youngster ran the fastest breeze up of all lots in the auction. He was timed to run 200 metres in a blistering 10.15 seconds.
Viva Pronto 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.
Viva Pronto’s dam, the 12 time Steel Blade winning mare Steel Shuffle, is a 100 per cent winner producer.
Her four named foals are all winners – aside from Viva Pronto her three other winners have been successful over sprint trips in Australia.