Regency Happy Star’s hot run of form in Hong Kong continued with the son of Lonhro completing the second leg of a homebred double for us at Sha Tin.

He followed the earlier winning lead of Embellish’s son Chateau Le Peche when he accounted for his Class 5 rivals over 1400 metres under rider Alexis Badel.

The well-related Regency Happy Star kicked off a treble for trainer David Eustace and his third victory and two placings from his last five starts.

“He’s had a terrific season, just gaining confidence and relaxing very well now in his races,” Eustace said.

“Obviously, the distance and the track were perfect for him and he’s been ridden beautifully by Alexis.

“It’s going to start to get a bit tougher, but hopefully we can have one more go in Class 5. I think we probably should for one more run.”

Regency Happy Star was purchased out of our New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft in 2021 by the late Stuart Hale for $200,000 and was a trial winner here before relocating to Hong Kong.

He is a half-brother to G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner El Castello and the first foal of the Fastnet Rock mare Word Games.

She is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (BMW Stakes, Victoria Derby) and has produced a pair of fillies by Almanzor in the last two season and is in foal to our new stallion Chaldean.

‍

Multiple Hong Kong placegetter Chateau Le Peche has posted his breakthrough success at Sha Tin.

Trained by Jimmy Ting, the four-year-old was belatedly successful over 2000 metres in the hands of Jerry Chau.

We bred and sold Chateau Le Peche who is a son of our resident sire Embellish and the late Rock Of Gibraltar mare Lovetrista.

She was a gifted performer who won the G2 Waikato Gold Cup and Listed Soliloquy Stakes and finished third in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

She has produced six winers at stud and her last foal is a yearling sister to Chateau Le Peche, bought out of our New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft by Wallace Thoroughbreds for $65,000.

From the famed Eight Carat family, Lovetrista is out of the two-time Group One winner Tristalove who left elite level success story and sire Viking Ruler.

The family continues to triumph at Group 1 level with recent G1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce the latest to add his name to the roll of honour.

‍

Talented staying three-year-old Kiwi Skyhawk produced a stirring performance at Trentham to gain a richly deserved victory.

The Stephen Marsh-trained Cambridge Stud graduate came from the tail of the field to land the thick end of the stake in the G3 Manawatu Classic over 2100 metres.

“With the pattern of the day, the plan was always to get back – possibly not 14 lengths off them at the 800 metres, but he’s a lovely horse and it’s great to see him deliver on a big day,” stable representative Dylan Johnson said.

“We elected to go back and ride him like the best horse in the race. We know he has a sharp turn of foot. Matt gave him a lovely, patient ride and it was a good win.

“Stephen has done a brilliant job. We’ve been quite light with him through the summer, which opens up the possibility of taking him to Brisbane in the winter. Bourbon Lane are a great bunch of owners who might enjoy a trip.”

A son of Contributor, Kiwi Skyhawk has raced creditably in strong company this season and finished third in the Listed War Decree Stakes before a game fourth in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Following a break, he was fifth in both the Karaka Millions 3YO and G1 New Zealand Derby before doubling his winning tally with his Trentham success.

Kiwi Skyhawk was last with 600 metres to run when rider Matt Cartwright urged him forward and, after cornering the widest runner, he produced a sustained finish to win by a length.

“I actually love riding this horse. He’s the kindest horse in the stable,” he said.

“They rolled along for the first part of the race and I was a fair way off them, but I really just trusted my horse.

“I have a lot of faith in him and he proved the talent that he’s got. I’m hoping he gets some good confidence out of this win.”

Kiwi Skyhawk was bred by Warwick Doughty and sold through our draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka where he was knocked down to Marsh and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $240,000.

He is a half-brother to stakes winners Rock Dove and Midland with their dam the Dubawi mare Pouter who has a yearling filly by Hello Youmzain and is in foal to our new stallion Chaldean.

Pouter’s pedigree has a strong international flavour with her dam a half-sister to the G1 Mother Goose Stakes winner Dreams Galore, who was also runner-up in both the G1 Kentucky Oaks and American Oaks.

‍