New South Wales Thoroughbred Breeders Overseas News

This page was last updated Friday the 25th of June 2004

Silent Witness crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year

The icing was put on the cake for Silent Witness on 19 June 2004 after a tremendous season by the four-year-old, when he was named Horse of the Year at the 2003/2004 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards.  Silent Witness (AUS) (El Moxie(USA)-Jade Tiara) was bred by TBNSW member Mr I K Smith of Edinburgh Park Stud.  What a year Silent Witness has had!  He has proven that he is truly an outstanding horse by setting a new Hong Kong record of 11 consecutive wins.  Whilst it is hard to single out Silent Witness’  best win for the season, the highlights would have to include the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at the International Race Day last December as well as his wins in the Hong Kong Champion Sprint Series.  The Champion Sprint Series is comprised of three Group 1 races, the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, the Centenary Sprint Cup and the Chairman’s Sprint.  Silent Witness has accumulated some HK$25,181,900 in career prizemoney from his eleven wins to date.  Silent Witness was also named Hong Kong Champion Sprinter at this year’s Awards as well as being named the Most Popular Horse of the Year by securing 32,031 votes from the public for the title.  This is the second year Silent Witness has been honoured at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards.  Last year he was named Champion Griffin and Most Improved Horse in Hong Kong.

2003/2004 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards

The 2003/2004 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards were announced on 19 June 2004 and the winners were:

Hong Kong Racing Update

The 2003/2004 racing season in Hong Kong has been completed with John Size recording another Trainer’s Premiership.  Size finished the season with 73 winners, 60 seconds, 53 thirds, 57 fourths and 33 fifths from 550 runners. David Hayes finished in third position with 55 winners, 49 seconds, 43 thirds, 45 fourths and 55 fifths from 550 runners.  John Moore ended the season in fourth position with 51 winners, 34 seconds, 33 thirds, 28 fourths and 40 fifths from 449 runners. 

Douglas Whyte won the Jockey’s Premiership by 37 wins finishing the season with 106 winners, 86 seconds, 77 thirds, 56 fourths and 56 fifths from 608 rides.  Shane Dye finished in second place with 69 winners, 54 seconds, 45 thirds, 55 fourths and 43 fifths from 537 rides. Craig Williams was in eighth place with 32 winners, 36 seconds, 40 thirds, 52 fourths and 37 fifths from 464 rides.

News from Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot - Britain's most famous race meeting - was run from Tuesday 15 June to Saturday 19 June 2004.  The star of the show was the three-year-old filly Attraction. She took her unbeaten run to eight and notched her third straight Group One win when landing the Coronation Stakes. It's a strong chance that her next run will be at Newmarket in the G1 UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes on July 6.  Godolphin - Sheikh Mohammed's racing operation - could feel pretty pleased with their efforts over the Royal meeting too. They had six of the 30 winners, including Papineau (G1), Refuse To Bend (G1), and the ultra-impressive Doyen (G2) – who broke the track record when winning the Hardwicke Stakes (1m 4f).  The Aga Khan's Azamour defeated the ultimatebet.com 2000 Guineas winner Haafhd in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes, while Fayr Jag took the six-furlong Golden Jubilee Stakes - won last year by Choisir.  Rakti looked to have come back better than ever as a five-year-old and he was authoritative in taking the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes. The BHB Summer Triple Crown - and its £1m bonus - are on his agenda and he'll run next in the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on July 3.

The full list of Group One winners from Royal Ascot were:

St James's Palace Stakes:  Azamour (3c Night Shift)
Queen Anne Stakes:  Refuse To Bend (4c Sadler's Wells)
Prince of Wales's Stakes:  Rakti (5h Polish Precedent)
Gold Cup:  Papineau (4c Singspiel)
Coronation Stakes:  Attraction (3f Efisio)
Golden Jubilee Stakes: Fayr Jag (5g Fayruz)

(Article courtesy British Horseracing Board)

Hong Kong Racing Update

John Size maintains his lead of 14 wins in the Trainer’s Ranking.  Size has recorded 71 winners, 58 seconds, 53 thirds, 57 fourths and 33 fifths from 540 runners. David Hayes is in third position having recorded 55 winners, 47 seconds, 43 thirds, 45 fourths and 55 fifths from 542 runners.  John Moore is in fourth position with 51 winners, 33 seconds, 33 thirds, 28 fourths and 40 fifths from 443 runners. 

Douglas Whyte has increased his lead to 38 wins in the Jockey’s Ranking.  Whyte has recorded 105 winners, 85 seconds, 77 thirds, 55 fourths and 55 fifths from 598 rides.  Shane Dye is in second place with 67 winners, 52 seconds, 45 thirds, 55 fourths and 43 fifths from 529 rides. Craig Williams is in eighth place with 32 winners, 34 seconds, 38 thirds, 49 fourths and 37 fifths from 455 rides.

All statistics are current up to the race meeting on 16/6/04.

Hong Kong Racing Update

John Size has a 14 win advantage in the Trainer’s Ranking.  Size has recorded 71 winners, 56 seconds, 51 thirds, 54 fourths and 33 fifths from 527 runners. David Hayes is in third position having recorded 54 winners, 47 seconds, 43 thirds, 44 fourths and 53 fifths from 530 runners.  John Moore is in fourth position with 49 winners, 33 seconds, 32 thirds, 27 fourths and 37 fifths from 429 runners. 

Douglas Whyte has increased his lead to 34 wins in the Jockey’s Ranking.  Whyte has recorded 101 winners, 83 seconds, 73 thirds, 53 fourths and 55 fifths from 580 rides.  Shane Dye is in second place with 67 winners, 51 seconds, 44 thirds, 52 fourths and 43 fifths from 517 rides. Craig Williams is in eighth place with 30 winners, 33 seconds, 38 thirds, 47 fourths and 36 fifths from 445 rides.

All statistics are current up to the race meeting on 9/6/04.

Thunder Gulch to Shuttle to Argentina in 2004

Thunder Gulch (USA), the winner of the 1995 Group 1 Kentucky Derby and the Group 1 Belmont Stakes, is to shuttle to Argentina for the 2004 Southern Hemisphere season.  Thunder Gulch(USA (Gulch-Line of Thunder) has stood the past 7 Southern Hemisphere seasons at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley.

Birdstone takes Group 1 Belmont Stakes

There was to be no fairy tale ending for Smarty Jones in his bid for the elusive triple crown.  Birdstone (Grindstone-Dear Birdie) won the Group 1 Belmont Stakes by one length from Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality-I’ll Get Along) with Royal Assault (Kris S-Fit for a Queen) eight lengths back in third place.  Smarty Jones was successful in the first two legs of the series the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes and joins Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Sunday Silence, Majestic Prince, Forward Pass, Tim Tam and Pensive as being a winner of those events and runner-up in the Belmont Stakes.

Hong Kong Racing Update

John Size has extended his lead yet again and now as a 15 win advantage in the Trainer’s Ranking.  Size has recorded 69 winners, 54 seconds, 49 thirds, 53 fourths and 32 fifths from 512 runners. David Hayes is in third position having recorded 53 winners, 47 seconds, 42 thirds, 42 fourths and 50 fifths from 513 runners.  John Moore is in fourth position with 48 winners, 32 seconds, 31 thirds, 27 fourths and 34 fifths from 416 runners. 

Douglas Whyte has maintained his 31 win lead in the Jockey’s Ranking.  Whyte has recorded 96 winners, 80 seconds, 73 thirds, 51 fourths and 54 fifths from 563 rides.  Shane Dye is in second place with 65 winners, 49 seconds, 43 thirds, 51 fourths and 41 fifths from 501 rides. Craig Williams is in eighth place with 28 winners, 33 seconds, 37 thirds, 44 fourths and 35 fifths from 430 rides.

All statistics are current up to the race meeting on 2/6/04.

2003 - 2004 Overseas News Archives

Overseas News Archive season ending 2003

Overseas News Archive season ending 2002