Savabeel’s son hot at happy valley

7 January 2016

WS graduate Flame Hero hugged the rails under jockey Derek Leung to open his stakes account in Hong Kong last night. The six-year-old claimed the Gr 3 January Cup over 1800 metres at Happy Valley, his seventh career victory.

“Previously, he has shown he was afraid of other horses, but he is more mature now and showed no fear,” Leung said. “The instruction was to let the horse run comfortably after the start. He did not show fast early speed as before, but travelled very smoothly on the rail. When I pushed the button, he responded very well.”

Trainer Peter Ho had targeted the January Cup some time ago as one of Flame Hero’s major aims. “He was second in the Happy Valley Vase at the end of last season over this trip,” he said. “I planned on this being one of his main targets for the season.”

A son of Savabeel, the gelding is out of the Gr 3 Cuddle Stakes winner Rhysess, in turn a daughter of the Gr 3 Lowland Stakes winner Sahrhys. They were both raced by their Wanganui trainer Chris Turner, who co-bred Flame Hero with WS.

Flame Hero is Savabeel’s 45th individual stakes winner overall, and is his 6th individual stakes winner this season behind Kawi, Soriano, Lucia Valentina, Cold Play and Southern Sav.

Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise

Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.

28 August 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.