Promising stayer Sharpen Bright played his part perfectly for trainer David Hall at Happy Valley on Sunday evening.
The Westbury Stud-bred son of Redwood delivered a special victory for the expatriate Australian conditioner, who was celebrating his 61st birthday.
“We were looking for a present and we got one, so a happy trainer for a happy birthday,” Hall said.
“He was up in Class 3 with a light weight (53.5kg), so the market was telling you he would be competitive, but he had to work for it and 1800 metres is probably a bit short of his best trip.
“He was under the pump a long way out to quicken up and it was a good effort for him to stay on the way he did under a good, solid ride by Karis (Teetan).”
It was a third win from 14 starts for the patiently handled five-year-old who has been successful over 2200 metres in June before a break and had resumed with a runner-up finish before going better in style.
Sharpen Bright was originally bought out of Westbury’s draft at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for A$25,000 by Robert Quinn Racing and won two trials in New South Wales before relocating to Hong Kong.
He is a son of the late Danehill mare Wandane, whose nine foals to race have all been successful and includes the dam of the Listed Albury Gold Cup winner and dual Group 1 placegetter Harmony Rose.
Wandane was out of a sister to the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner and successful sire Marauding.