Waikato Stud’s sprinting sensation does it again

Excitement machine Courier Wonder turned in another sizzling performance in Hong Kong on Sunday evening to add the G3 Sha Tin Vase H. to his burgeoning record.

The 3-year-old son of the late Sacred Falls was stepped up in grade by trainer John Size and he never looked in any danger of defeat to keep his perfect record intact and confirm he is on a path to higher honours.

When the Waikato Stud-bred and sold Courier Wonder was asked for a serious home straight effort by regular rider Joao Moreira he responded impressively.

The G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint is now very much the longer-term target for the gifted short course performer.

“That’s where we’re heading. There are no races I would want to run him now and I think that he probably showed that he was looking for a break anyway,” Size told the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

“That was the feeling I got watching the race live. He’s got talent and we just have to manage it and try and keep him out of harm’s way and then turn him loose on a racetrack.”

Moreira has ridden Courier Wonder in all of his appearances and has a growing admiration for the horse.

“In the straight, I pulled him out and he dashed home as he always does – good horses like him give jockeys an amazing feeling,” he said. “I’m very excited (for next season), he’s the type of horse that everyone dreams to have.”

He is one of 20 stakes winners this year to graduate from the premier Matamata farm and highlighted by Group 1 victories from Probabeel (Futurity S.), Mo’unga (Rosehill Guineas) and Amarelinha (New Zealand Oaks).

A brother to this season’s G1 Doncaster H. runner-up Icebath, Courier Wonder surged to the front 150 metres from home and, under hands and heels riding, comfortably held his older rivals at bay for his fifth consecutive victory.

Courier Wonder was purchased out of Waikato Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale Karaka for $150,000 by astute agent John Foote and is a son of the Savabeel mare Fabulist, who won five times.

He was a trial winner at Cranbourne for trainer Rob Hickmott before his sale to Hong Kong interests
and relocation to Size’s stable.

All five of Fabulist’s foals to race have been successful and she is from the family of the G2 Wakefield
Challenge S. winner Kapsdan and the Listed winner Eccentricity, whose son Wyndham Glory was a
dual stakes winner.