Full
brothers Werther and Gobstopper posted Group race wins in New Zealand and Hong
Kong on the weekend.
The talented staying duo are by Cambridge Stud's high class sire Tavistock from
Zabeel mare Bagalollies.
Gobstopper won the Group III New Zealand Cup, read about
him here.
Horse of the Year & Champion Middle Distance Horse in Hong Kong in 2015-16
and Champion Stayer in Hong Kong in 2016-17, Werther showed he was back to top
form winning the Group II BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) a Sha Tin on Sunday.
Next month's HK$25 million Group I LONGINES Hong Kong Cup at the course and
distance is all that stands between the six-year-old and a career sweep of Hong
Kong's premier 2000m contests.
Werther has already sealed wins in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, AP QEII Cup and
Hong Kong Gold Cup, and Sunday's win was just the lead-up to Hong Kong's
richest race connections had been hoping for.
"He's exactly where we want him to be, there are exciting times ahead," said
winning jockey Tommy Berry.
Werther had to call on his champion's grit in the closing stages to outpoint
runner-up Time Warp by a neck. The New Zealand-bred was blowing hard when he
came back to scale, but emphasised his wellbeing with a brash kick at the air
as he made his exit.
"That was a cracking good run considering it was his second run this season,"
said his trainer John Moore.
"His fitness was really tested and he will improve for this run.
"The speed that Harbour Master went up front today really tested his fitness
level, which wasn't 100 percent. We got away with it and now we go to the Hong
Kong Cup. He'll come away from this race in better fettle for that grand
final."
Tavistock has nearly 20 entries for the NZB Ready to Run Sale this week, click
here to see them.