Trainer John Size will consider setting Wunderbar for another clash with boom sprinter Ka Ying Rising after the exciting galloper continued his winning ways at Sha Tin on Sunday.
In his first test at Class Two level, Wunderbar prevailed from a gallant Bottomuptogether to add to his imposing record and clinch a treble for champion jockey Zac Purton on the day.
Purton had Wunderbar well placed trailing the leader Bottomuptogether in running and came off the fence to make his challenge at the top of the straight.
The pair cleared out from rivals and neither gave an inch over the final 300m, but it was the $1.9 favourite Wunderbar who got the upper hand to score by a neck. Gorgeous Win was a length and a half behind in third.
Six wins from seven starts! 🚀
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 13, 2024
The favourite Wunderbar overhauls Bottomuptogether for a @zpurton three-timer at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/45hyLlMTdZ
Now two-from-two this season after a successful return last month, Wunderbar notched his sixth win from seven starts with his only defeat a second to classy sprinter Mugen.
But with no Class Two sprints at Sha Tin until December, Size said the Rich Enuff four-year-old could be thrust into the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) on November 17 where he would meet Ka Ying Rising for the third time.
Wunderbar is the only horse to have beaten Ka Ying Rising after narrowly accounting for David Hayes’ excitement machine in their two clashes in January.
“He’s six out of seven and he’s been good,” Size said.
“The races are a little bit skinny for him at the moment and we’ll find something for him. I’ll think about [the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint], I’ll see how the horse is and there’s not much on.”
Size was thrilled with Wunderbar’s fighting win after he overcame a long absence and yielding track to score first up.
“He showed good speed and had to fight on, so it was a good effort. On top of the ground with the track a bit quicker he’s run a better time and I suppose that’s all he can do,” said Size, whose two winners for the season have come courtesy of Wunderbar.
Purton said: “Like all of John Size’s horses, he’s improved with the run and he’s going the right way, he’s just got to learn to switch off a little bit better in the middle stages.”
Purton was also victorious on Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Savvy Brilliant in a Class Three over 1,200m and the David Hall-trained Charmander in a Class Five 1,400m event.
A Mornington winner at his only Australian start under the name of Gallaroo, Savvy Brilliant stormed home from sixth on the turn to beat Captain Win by three quarters of a length.
The Toronado four-year-old bounced back from an unlucky Hong Kong debut when eighth to Magic Control down the straight.
“Zac said when he came past the other horses he was just waiting and looking around,” Lor said.
Toronado gelding Savvy Brilliant salutes under a brilliant @zpurton ride at Sha Tin for Frankie Lor! 🔥#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ySAA7L06ap
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 13, 2024
“Hopefully he will keep improving. We might go to Happy Valley with him. The short straight will hopefully suit him.”
Lucy In The Sky added another layer to Wunderbar’s outstanding form, following a first-up second to Size’s talented sprinter with a hard-fought win on Sunday.
Karis Teetan lifted Lucy In The Sky to a half-length triumph over Prince Of Porty in a Class Three 1,400m handicap in a performance that could prompt Me Tsui Yu-sak to consider a tilt at the Classic Mile.