Remember Kungfu Hero, who trounced his rivals in a Restricted Maiden 1200m race on October 14, 2023, for trainer Jerome Tan? Well, the three-year-old is now two for two after winning first-up in Hong Kong for trainer Tony Cruz under the name Young Superstar.
One of two Kranji horses sold to the Hong Kong Jockey Club to be raced by the Racing Club, Young Superstar is the first to have faced the starter. The other purchase, Young Arrow (formerly known as September and trained by Daniel Meagher at Kranji), seems to be nearing his first start for trainer Douglas Whyte after commencing fast work in mid-March.
Singapore speedster! 🚀
A winner pre-import at Kranji, 3YO Young Superstar scores nicely on debut in Hong Kong for the HKJC Racing Club… @angusylchung #HKracing pic.twitter.com/76dcbNvgLc
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 2, 2024
Sent off at 10/1 in the market for his Hong Kong debut from the inside gate under jockey Angus Chung, it was déjà vu for Young Superstar as he repeated the front-running tactics he had shown at Kranji.
By the 300m mark, those who backed him could have started to count their winnings as he had the race favourite, Stellar Express, easily accounted for. By the 100m mark, it was all over as he kicked clear to win decisively by 1.5 lengths over a closing Prawns Eleven, who races in the Toast Trust Syndicate colors of Singapore owner Constance Cheng.
Impressive as! 🌟
Former Singapore galloper Young Superstar fires on debut for @angusylchung… #HKracing pic.twitter.com/q4HMd8S5nt
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 2, 2024
Speaking of the Toast Trust colors, the exciting three-year-old Silo stepped out for his first trial in Hong Kong last Thursday for trainer Mark Newnham with jockey Harry Bentley in the saddle.
Standing out as one of, if not the standout, three-year-old at Kranji this season, Silo ran his last race in the Lion City in late January, defeating the handy galloper Makin in a Class 3 1400m race.
Judging by the way Silo found the line in his 1050m hit out on Sha Tin’s all-weather track, it would appear he has settled nicely into his new surroundings.
