Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Amazing Star has won seven races for trainer Jimmy Ting, including a monumental upset in the G2 Sprint Cup back in April. On Sunday, over the same track and distance, he takes on Hong Kong's top sprinters, plus a star trio of Japanese raiders.
For Graham Bax, who owns Blandford Lodge, a win, or even a big performance, would be much more than just a feather in the cap as Amazing Star's breeder, it would also supercharge interest in his half-brother by Harry Angel (Ire), who will be offered by Valiant Stud at next month's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Graham Bax | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
He describes the yearling colt from the first crop of the Darley shuttle stallion as a real star, as good a looking a horse as he has bred over the years. Any sense that Bax might be guilty of having a 'breeder's bias' can be dismissed when he recalls his impressions of Amazing Star as a young horse.
"He was quite a plain horse. He wasn't a standout, that's for real," he told TDN AusNZ.
"He only made NZ$30,000 through the Karaka Sale in Book 2. Maybe at that stage, Darci Brahma wasn't setting the world on fire. There was nothing wrong with him, he was a tidy type, but he certainly wasn't a star or a standout. Just a plain, bay horse."
"There was nothing wrong with him (Amazing Star), he was a tidy type, but he certainly wasn't a star or a standout. Just a plain, bay horse." - Graham Bax
Bax has watched on closely as Amazing Star has continued to improve with every season. Elevating himself to the company of the best Hong Kong sprinters, he finished ninth, beaten 5l by Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), in last year's Hong Kong Sprint.
Amazing Star (NZ) winning the G2 Sprint Cup | Image courtesy of the HKJC
"He's turned out quite fast. He won a few down the straight there and won them easily. He finds it a bit tougher against the big boys, but when Zac Purton used to ride him, he was an impressive winner several times," he said.
"I remember when he won the Group 2 race over there, and he was paying $200. I always a put a little saver on my horses if they are running and thought to myself, 'I can't back a horse at $200' and then he came out and won!
"I always a put a little saver on my horses if they are running and thought to myself, 'I can't back a horse at $200' and then he (Amazing Star) came out and won!" - Graham Bax
"I'm pleasantly surprised with how he is going. He has got the runs on the board and won a bit of money. Whether he goes any good on Sunday, we will find out."
American dream
Bax purchased Amazing Star's stakes-placed dam, Bright Abyss (USA) (Royal Academy {USA}), out of the United States around a decade ago, looking for a mare to add a bit of 'fresh blood' to his broodmare band. Her dam, Reines Des Neiges (USA) (Smart Strike {USA}) was a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt in USA in 1986, Snow Chief (USA).
"I bought her through an agent over there. I only paid about US$30,000 (AU$42,000) for her. She could run a bit. She won nine times on the track. I like to try to get horses that can run a bit and I thought I’d give her a try," he said.
Cheerfuljet (NZ) | Image courtesy of the HKJC
Bright Abyss' first colt by Savabeel never got to the track, and her second colt, to be named Cheerfuljet (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), would win four races in Hong Kong for Caspar Fownes.
That paved the way for Amazing Star's progress to Asia, having been privately sold following a Foxton trial win for Sam Lennox, who had purchased him as a yearling. He then joined the Chris So yard before transferring to Ting's stable after his first season in Hong Kong.
"I like to try to get horses that can run a bit and I thought I’d give her (Bright Abyss) a try." - Graham Bax
A third member of that family, Ballistic Man (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) has also ended up in Hong Kong, having been sold by Bax for $80,000 through Valiant Stud at the Inglis Classic Sale last year. He had a recent trial for Ting and is approaching his debut.
Gold Coast Angel
Bax is hopeful that the strong connection with Hong Kong buyers can pay dividends when the Harry Angel half-brother goes through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale next month as Lot 825.
The breeder was looking for a well-credentialled speedy sire to send Bright Abyss to in 2019 and landed on Darley's July Cup-winning freshman.
Harry Angel (Ire) | Standing at Darley
"He was a fast horse, Harry Angel. He had a good rating. I always send a few horses to Darley. They have always looked after me well and so I thought I would give him a try and keep the speed in the family," he said.
"The colt is a star on looks. He's a real proper horse, I'm hoping that the Hong Kong buyers will like the Harry Angel side and be quite keen to bid on him."
"The colt is a star on looks. He's a real proper horse, I'm hoping that the Hong Kong buyers will like the Harry Angel side and be quite keen to bid on him." - Graham Bax
Bright Abyss produced a filly by another Darley shuttle stallion, Street Boss (USA), this spring, who has already left her impression.
"She's lovely. I'm very happy with her. She can throw a nice horse that mare," Bax said.
With the family on the up, Bax decided on a rising New Zealand-based stallion for his next mating for Bright Abyss.
"She is now in foal to Almanzor," he said.
Almanzor (Fr) | Standing at Cambridge Stud
"We are hanging our hats on him (Almanzor) over here in New Zealand. He's a nice horse himself, a really good racehorse. He has got good stock and has been so well mated-up. He's got a big chance I think."
Heartened by his success with an American-bred mare, Bax has been back to buy a few since Bright Abyss, including the private purchase of stakes winner Advert (USA) (Lonhro), who has been mated to Savabeel.
"She cost me a bit, but she is from a really nice family and she was another one with a bit of race speed," he said.
