Another Hong Kong Derby Win For NZ

Pierro 4YO Furore added to New Zealand’s unmatched record for producing classic winners in Hong Kong with his outstanding victory in Sunday’s $HK18 million HK Derby at Sha Tin.

The Frankie Lor-trained Furore was bred in New Zealand by Jonathan Munz under his GSA Bloodstock banner and was sold as a yearling at Karaka.

Born and raised at Haunui Farm, he went through the ring at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale where he was purchased by Australian Bloodstock and Kris Lees Racing for $210,000.

Furore was initially trained in Australia by Lees and won four of his first six starts and was third in last year’s G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before his private sale to Hong Kong.

He broke through for his maiden HK stakes victory in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) earlier this year.

The Hong Kong Classic Mile is a leg of the 4YO triple crown series which culminates with the Hong Kong Derby, regarded as the most prestigious race for local owners.

New Zealand-breds have now won the HK Derby seven times in the last 11 years including three of the last four.

Furore follows on from last year’s HK Derby winner Ping Hai Star (Nom du Jeu) while Werther (Tavistock) won the classic in 2016 .

Furore was ridden by champion Australian jockey Hugh Bowman for Frankie Lor, the rising star of the training ranks in Hong Kong.

Overall he has now had 11 starts for six wins, two placings and prizemoney of $A3.362 million – more than 16 times his purchase price.

Furore (Pierro x Stormy Choice by Redoute’s Choice) is one of 15 stakes winners by Coolmore stallion Pierro, the brilliant son of Lonhro who won the 2YO Triple Crown in Sydney in 2014.

Furore is one of three winners out of the maiden Redoute’s Choice mare Stormy Choice and is a half-brother to the nine-time winner Blizzard (Starcraft).

Blizzard also raced in Hong Kong where he won the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup and was placed in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint.

Stormy Choice is a three-quarters sister to Danestorm (Danehill), whose five wins included the G1 Brisbane Cup. She is also a half-sister to the dam of the G3 winner Shanzero (Danzero).

Stormy Choice was served by Written Tycoon last spring.

Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty recalled Furore as a ‘nice horse’ as a yearling.

“He was a solid nice horse who was well balanced, had a great attitude, a great temperament and was easy to prepare,” Chitty said.

Chitty said Jonathan Munz, who stood ill-fated stallion Ferlax at Haunui Farm, had enjoyed a great season as a breeder in New Zealand, having also bred the G2 winner and joint New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Imelda Mary.