Challenge Cup Triumph for Ready to Run Graduate Famous Jonathn (NZ)

Media Release - Monday July 31

Karaka graduate Famous Jonathn (NZ) (Deep Field) claimed the biggest win of his career so far with a brilliant front-running performance in Sunday’s M$800,000 Chairman’s Challenge Cup (1200m) in Macau.

The Ben Kwok-bred gelding went through the Karaka sale ring twice in 2021, fetching $60,000 in Book 1 of Karaka 2021 and $80,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later in the year. His 17-start career has now produced six wins and five-second placings, earning the equivalent of almost NZ$300,000 in stakes.

Famous Jonathn (NZ) took out the M$800,000 Chairman's Challenge Cup.

Famous Jonathn had never won a stakes race before Sunday, and he faced a formidable line-up in the big sprint, including two-time defending champion Star Of Yiu Cheung (Casino Prince). But the emerging three-year-old rose to the occasion in superb style with visiting Australian jockey Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

Breaking only fairly from the inside gate, Famous Jonathn was quickly driven forward by Rawiller and slid through on the inside of expected front-runner Yulong Command (Written Tycoon) to take the lead within the first 400 metres.

It was a one-horse race from there, with Famous Jonathn opening up a wide advantage coming down the side of the track and rounding the home turn four lengths clear of his nearest challenger.

Star Of Yiu Cheung led a pack of closers chasing him hard down the straight, but Famous Jonathn never came back to them. By the time he swept past the finish line, he was still two and a half lengths ahead and stopped the clock at 1:09.9.

Famous Jonathn is one of two winners from two foals to race out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Miss Majella, who is a half-sister to the Australian triple Group One winner Mentality (Flying Spur).

Advertisement
Vendor Karaka 2021: Windsor Park Stud2021 Ready to Run Sale: JC Thoroughbreds Ltd
Purchaser Karaka 2021: Mr MK Lai (Hong Kong)2021 Ready to Run Sale: Macau Jockey Club/Mr Stanley Chin (Macau)
Breeding Deep Field – Miss Majella
Sale Lot 542, Karaka 2021 Book 1, $60,000Lot 2017, 2021 Ready to Run Sale, $80,000
Bred by C W Kwok
Advertisment
More Reading...
Cosmic Vega Breaks Through in Kilmore Cup
A rapidly deteriorating track at Kilmore proved the winning formula for the Irish import Cosmic Vega (IRE) and visiting English rider Saffie Osborne to open their Australian accounts in Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet365 Kilmore Cup (1600m).
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.