Zoustar
has been riding the crest of a winning wave in 2018 and added a new string to
his bow at Sha Tin on Saturday when siring his first winner in Hong Kong.
Making his debut for the Caspar Fownes stable, three year-old gelding Dancing
Fighter was a short priced favourite and showed plenty of pace before kicking
on to win the 1200 metre sprint by a neck under Zac Purton.
Dancing Fighter had one trial in Sydney for Chris Waller and finished second
before being sent to Hong Kong and he now runs in the colours of Hong Kong
celebrity Aaron Kwok, a noted singer, dancer and actor.
A dashing gold hairstyle made Kwok easy to spot despite being swamped by
photographers and Fownes was thrilled to score again for an owner he describes
as "a gentleman and one of the boys."
"It's great for a guy like Aaron to be involved. He has had success with me
before but he loves his racing and it's awesome to see everyone buzzing," said
Fownes, who will go forward quietly with Dancing Fighter next year.
"We'll let him develop further but he'll be alright next season."
A $375,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kulani Park draft for Aquis/McEvoy
Mitchell Racing/Blue Sky Bstock, Dancing Fighter was a successful pinhook for
Rhys and Chloe Smith, who bought him for $100,000 at the Magic Millions
National Weanling Sale from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft.
Bred by Kia Ora Stud, Dancing Fighter is the fourth winner from Group III
winning Danzero mare Permaiscuous.
He is the first Hong Kong winner for Zoustar, whose only other Hong Kong runner
is Quadruple Triple, who has placed in five of eight starts and was second in
the recent Griffin Trophy.