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Aerovelocity bulldozes to emphatic Centenary Sprint Cup win

31/01/2016

Aerovelocity was back to his brilliant, bullying, irascible best at Sha Tin Racecourse this afternoon, Sunday 31 January, with a dominating yet tempestuous victory in the HKG1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).

The race day stewards deliberated before announcing Paul O’Sullivan’s stable star the winner, over-ruling an objection from third-placed Peniaphobia’s rider, Joao Moreira. The Brazilian had a couple of close shaves with the inside rail late on as the Zac Purton-ridden Aerovelocity quickened by and then made a determined bee-line for his favourite running spot, tight against the fence.

“I wouldn’t say I enjoyed the last 200 metres because I had a bit of a wrestle with him trying to keep him off the fence,” said the winning rider. “He gave me a difficult ride but I did the best I could and he won pretty comfortably in the end.”

Purton had enjoyed a dream run up to that point, poised motionless atop his cruising partner, cuddling the powerful gelding out of the final turn; waiting as he eased past the fading pace-setters Domineer and Amber Sky; waiting again when he drew upsides the new leader, Peniaphobia; shaking the reins at the 200m point to send Aerovelocity’s pink-blinkered head clear of the field.

“At the 350 metres I knew they weren’t going to beat him,” said Purton. But then came the wrestling match. Aerovelocity gave Peniaphobia a bump 150m out; Moreira was up in the irons at the 100m point. Aerovelocity drew away for a length and a half win in a time of 1m 08.36s as Gold-Fun ran on to take second.

“He brained them today!” was O’Sullivan’s response. “Today was right up to his very best performance.”

Aerovelocity had missed the opportunity to defend his G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint crown in December due to an earlier incident of a heart irregularity that left him below par and cost him a shot at the US$1 million Global Sprint Challenge Bonus. Peniaphobia made hay in his absence, taking that course and distance prize in stunning front-running style under Moreira.

“It must have been a very difficult decision for the owner, Daniel (Yeung Ngai), to pass up the Hong Kong Sprint and the chance of a million dollar bonus, but they were brave enough to do it and they got what they deserved today,” said O’Sullivan.

Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter gave warning pre-race of what was to come. An infamously bull-headed character, the seven-year-old introduced assistant trainer Pierre Ng to the rail on the walkway from the parade ring to the track.

“He put him through the rail – I thought he’d broken his ribs! It’s always a good sign when he’s full of himself like that, though. He’s a very quirky horse, but we’re used to him,” said O’Sullivan, who admitted to nerves going into the race and during.

“It’s a nervous time bringing a horse back. I was especially nervous between the 500 metres and the 400 metres. When they’ve had that sort of problem that’s when they blow up, and then it’s goodnight, but when he cantered up I thought ‘yes, it’s your day’.

“He’s trialled better, he’s holding his weight like he did last season and we certainly were far happier going into this but of course when a horse has had a heart irregularity you’re always a bit apprehensive.”

Aerovelocity won G1 contests in Japan and Singapore last year but O’Sullivan is not sure about the Pins gelding’s next target.

“I haven’t thought one day past today,” he said. “I know what the options are and we’ll probably prioritise the race back here in May (G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize) but I haven’t even sat down and worked out the dates. It’s a great thrill today for him to come back.”

Photo 1, 2, 3<br>
Trained by Paul O��Sullivan and ridden by Zac Purton, Aerovelocity (No 3) wins the Centenary Sprint Cup (HKG1, 1200m) �V the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series �V at Sha Tin Racecourse today.
ttp://racing.hkjc.com/image/201601/news_201601311741_01-W180.jpg
Photo 1:
Photo 1, 2, 3
Trained by Paul O��Sullivan and ridden by Zac Purton, Aerovelocity (No 3) wins the Centenary Sprint Cup (HKG1, 1200m) �V the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series �V at Sha Tin Racecourse today. /span>


Photo 2


Photo 3

Connections of Aerovelocity celebrate their success after the race.
Photo 4:
Connections of Aerovelocity celebrate their success after the race.

Photo 5, 6, 7<br>
Lester C H Kwok (right), a Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, presents the Centenary Sprint Cup winning trophy and the gold-plated dishes to Daniel Yeung Ngai, owner of winning horse Aerovelocity, winning trainer Paul O��Sullivan and jockey Zac Purton.
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Photo 5:
Photo 5, 6, 7
Lester C H Kwok (right), a Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, presents the Centenary Sprint Cup winning trophy and the gold-plated dishes to Daniel Yeung Ngai, owner of winning horse Aerovelocity, winning trainer Paul O��Sullivan and jockey Zac Purton. nt>


Photo 6


Photo 7

Group photo at the presentation ceremony of the Centenary Sprint Cup.
Photo 8:
Group photo at the presentation ceremony of the Centenary Sprint Cup.

Winning connections share their happiness with media for the success of Aerovelocity in the Centenary Sprint Cup.
Photo 9:
Winning connections share their happiness with media for the success of Aerovelocity in the Centenary Sprint Cup.

 

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