Now pensioned Deep Field is well on his way to a fourth consecutive Champion HK Sire title and added a new stakes-winner to his tally at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day when Howdeepisyourlove took out the Group III Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m).
The Champion Griffin in 2022/2023, five year-old Howdeepisyourlove was last seen finishing fifth to Ka Ying Rising in the Group I Hong Kong International Sprint and appreciated a drop in grade for this assignment.
Trained by John Size and ridden by Zac Purton. Howdeepisyourlove carried 61kg and hit the line hard to snatch a head win in a slick 56.16 seconds.
“He’s made small improvement along the way, his pattern changed a little bit and his tracks have changed – he’s come to Sha Tin and run well – and as he’s gone up in class, he hasn’t looked anything flash but he’s always been there to do the job. Today, he got one of the rewards he’s entitled to,” Size said.
The G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) run over the straight course at Meydan in Dubai in April is a possible target for Howdeepisyourlove.
“I’ll see how he is after the race at home and see what our options are and how he pulls up but that’s (the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy) a straight race so that opens up a possibility for him,” Size added.
A $270,000 Inglis Classic purchase for John Foote Bloodstock from the Toolooganvale Farm draft, Howdeepisyourlove has won six races and placed 10 times from 25 starts and is the 37th stakes-winner for his sire Deep Field.
He is the best of two winners from My Shabella, a winning Haradasun mare from the family of stakes-winners Dangerous Seam, Seidnazar and Real Jester. She has been a tricky producer and had not had a foal since Howdeepisyourlove until producing a colt by Astern last year.
The last small crop of foals by Deep Field are yearlings and he has two entries for Magic Millions.