Werther wins in Hong Kong
Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman believes the New Zealand-bred Werther confirmed his status as a global superstar with his win in Sunday’s QEII Cup at Sha Tin.
Bowman guided the son of Tavistock to victory by a resounding four and a half lengths.
‘‘He has now, after winning so decisively, taken the big step on the world stage, so Hong Kong has got a world champion in its midst,’’ Bowman said.
Trainer John Moore says Werther, the winner of last month’s Hong Kong Derby, will now be aimed at the Cox Plate in Melbourne in October. That could create a dilemma for Bowman, who is also the regular rider of last year’s exceptional Cox Plate winner Winx.
‘‘There were some doubts about the strength of the Hong Kong Derby form, but Werther has put that to bed now,’’ Moore said.
‘‘He was extremely impressive and he will continue to improve. The sky’s the limit. Next will be the Champions & Chater Cup and Hugh will be here to ride him again.
It is just 12 months ago that Werther was trained by Andrew Campbell at Opaki and won the Group II Championship Stakes at Ellerslie before his syndicate of owners sold the gelding they bred from their Zabeel mare Bagalollies.
Prior to his sale to Hong Kongbased Johnson Chen, he had three Australian starts producing a win in the Eagle Farm Cup and seconds in the South Australian Derby and Queensland Derby, all told earning close to $500,000 in stakes. Bagalollies has visited Tavistock five times.
Campbell has Werther’s full brother Gobstopper in his stable and he has raced nine times for a maiden win.
The breeders sold a full sister at the Karaka Yearling Sales in January for $300,000 and have a weanling sister and the mare is back in foal to Tavistock.
The Australian-trained, New Zealand-owned QE ll Cup runner Rising Romance raced alongside Werther in the run but was unable to produce anything over the final stages and finished 10th of the 13 starters.
Meanwhile Zed gelding Ambitious Champion won the Queen Mother Memorial Cup.