Kiwi mare in running for Hong Kong

10 November 2015

New Zealand-owned mare Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) may receive an opportunity to star farther afield. Trainer Kris Lees is hopeful the last-start Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes winner will be invited to run in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup on December 13.

“I think she can be competitive in any 2000 metre race when she’s in form,” he said.

The Lib Petagna-raced Lucia Valentina is a dual Group One winner over 2000 metres, having won the Turnbull Stakes and the Vinery Stud Stakes. -NZ Racing Desk

Ardrossan’s Group 1-placed darling wins A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes

Second and fourth in 1600m Group 1 races in her two previous starts since being purchased privately by OTI Racing and stepping out in Australia under Chris Waller’s racing banner, De Armas (Ardrossan) stepped up in distance at Flemington on Saturday and opened her Australian account in style in the A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day.

30 October 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.