Written by Paul Vettise
Pinhooking can be a precarious business, but Cambridge couple Mark and Shelley Treweek are proven masters of the game.
Under their Lyndhurst Farm banner, they have time and again turned over young thoroughbreds at a healthy profit and the aptly-named Hong Kong Group 1 winner Mr Stunning (Exceed And Excel) is a shining example of their trade.
“You’re always hoping to double your money and if you do, you’re going really well,” Shelley Treweek said.
Mark and Shelley Treweek
“We’re always after horses that catch our eye and then hope they catch the eye of someone else. Mr Stunning was one of those.
“He wasn’t the tallest around, not even when we sold him as a yearling, but he was such an athletic type.” – Shelley Treweek.
“He wasn’t the tallest around, not even when we sold him as a yearling, but he was such an athletic type.”
Bred by Tony Santic’s Makybe Racing and Breeding operation, Mr Stunning was purchased by them for $110,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale Bloodstock and Weanling Sale of 2013.
Mr Stunning is by Exceed And Excel
“He was a really nice type, he looked precocious,” Treweek said. “We thought he was reasonably priced at the time.
“We thought he was the right type to suit a Hong Kong buyer.” - Shelley Treweek.
“He ticked all our boxes and we have a set criteria before we bid on a horse. We thought he was the right type to suit a Hong Kong buyer.”
That Mr Stunning did and he realised a healthy profit at Karaka in 2014 when Magus Equine’s Willie Leung secured him at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Sale for NZ$250,000.
“He was a lovely individual, so much spunk and intelligence,” Treweek said. “He’s still not overly big, but he’s got a heart of gold and such a good horse.”
Mr Stunning was purchased by Magus Equine's Willie Leung
The 6-year-old was a trial winner at Avondale before he relocated to Hong Kong where he has won 10 of his 21 starts, with success in the G2 The Sprint Cup, the G2 Premier Bowl, the Jockey Club Sprint.
Twelve months ago, Mr Stunning broke through at the highest level when he won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint and at Sha Tin on Sunday he will defend his title.
Australian roll of honour
Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago), Absolute Champion (Marauding), Silent Witness (El Moxie {USA}), All Thrills Too (St Covet), Falvelon (Alannon) and Fairy King Prawn (Danehill {USA}) were previous Australian-bred winners of the short course feature.
Mr Stunning was prepared for his first Group 1 success by expatriate Australian trainer John Size, but has this season transferred to Frankie Lor’s operation. If victorious on Sunday, he will join Sacred Kingdom and Falvelon as two-time winners of the event.
The gelding has made two appearances from his new quarters, running third in the G2 Premier Bowl and finishing runner-up in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint.
He is a son of With Fervour (USA) (Dayjur {USA}), who has produced five winners, and she is a half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner With Anticipation (USA) (Relaunch {USA}). Their dam is the triple Group 1 winner Fran’s Valentine (USA) (Saros {GB}).
