Another Classic Winner for Wrote ? - HK Derby tilt for Nicola Chu-bred

Media Release - Tuesday March 19

When classy four-year-old Chill Chibi takes his place in Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), it will mark a significant achievement for breeder Nicola Chu.

Hong Kong Derby aspirant Chill Chibi Photo: HKJC

Chu, who breeds under the banner of the Hong Kong Breeders Club, is achieving exactly what she set out to do, by producing horses good enough to compete in Hong Kong’s most coveted race.

Bred and raised at Highview Stud in New Zealand, of which Chu is a part-owner, the son of Wrote (IRE) was a winner at his second Hong Kong start when successful over a mile at Happy Valley in February last year.

The Danny Shum-trained four-year-old returned after a lengthy absence with an emphatic victory over the same course and distance in November.

After completing a hat-trick in his next Class Three test over 1650m a fortnight later, Chill Chibi  continued his ascendancy over 1800m by notching his fourth win on the bounce and third in the space of a month.

Advertisement

Tested in Class 2 company in December, Chill Chibi finished third but was subsequently found to have a hind limb lameness.

Off the scene until the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) the four-year-old was one of the eyecatchers of the race, coming from last to finish seventh and he looks certain to relish the 2000m of the Derby.

Wrote (IRE)

Chu is a shareholder in Highview Stud stallion Wrote, a Grade 1 winning son of High Chaparral, who is making a good impression. He has had three runners to date in Hong Kong for three winners, while he sired his first Group One winner in New Zealand last weekend when Pulchritudinous won the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in emphatic fashion.

Wrote was the third leading sire by average at Karaka Book 2 behind popular fellow young sires Ardrossan and Satono Aladdin.

Chill Chibi comes from a family that Chu knows well, having raced his dam My Amazing Cool, a daughter of her Group One performed son of Danehill, Danroad, who also stood at Highview Stud. 

Prominent Hong Kong-based breeder Nicola Chu Photo: HKJC

It is the second-year in succession that Chu has bred a Derby runner. Vice Chair of the Hong Kong Thoroughbred Breeders’ Alliance, Chu also bred Sweet Encounter, who was seventh in the blue riband race last year.

The winner of five of his 22 starts, Sweet Encounter is prepared by John Size and boasts a further seven placings for owner Vicky Tang.

Like Chill Chibi, Sweet Encounter was sold as a yearling by Highview Stud and went on to do further education through the New Zealand trials system. Chill Chibi had three trials for Cambridge horseman Ben Foote, while Sweet Encounter finished runner-up in his only trial for Jenna Mahoney.

“It is so exciting seeing a number of our New Zealand bred horses making a significant impact in the Hong Kong racing scene,” Chu said.

“I will be cheering loudly for Chill Chibi on Sunday and nothing would make me prouder than breeding a Derby winner.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.