Pins Progeny A Popular Commodity In Hong Kong

With a star like champion sprinter Aerovelocity it is little wonder the progeny of NZ-based sire Pins remain a hugely popular commodity with Hong Kong owners.

Aerovelocity bounced back to his brilliant best at Sha Tin last Sunday with a dominating performance to win the $HK 8 million Centenary Cup Sprint over 1200m.

The seven-year-old son of Pins was having only his second start in six months and produced a dashing display to record his fourth win at the highest level.

“That was his best lifetime performance - he smashed them,” commented ex-pat Kiwi trainer Paul O’Sullivan.

“Aerovelocity is another great product from the NZB National Yearling Sales Series. He’s certainly the best sprinter here in Hong Kong.”

Paul O’Sullivan purchased the gelding for NZ$120,000 at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale from Windsor Park Stud.

Bred by Nelson Schick and Steve Till, the son of Pins is out of winning mare Exodus (Kaapstad), a full-sister to Kapitain Kash (Kaapstad), winner of the G2 Counties Cup, and is a half-sister to Dante’s Paradiso (Danske), winner of the Listed Tattersalls Club Cup.

Aerovelocity made his debut in New Zealand, under the name Naisoso Warrior, having only one start for one win when trained by Andrew Scott.

Owned by Daniel Yeung Ngai, Aerovelocity has now won 11 races from 20 starts and has earned $5,757,769 in prizemoney.

Aerovelocity missed the opportunity to defend his G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint crown in December, costing him a shot at the $US1 million Global Sprint Challenge Bonus.

He had earlier claimed both the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) in Japan and the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) in Singapore.

“He’ll have a busy season ahead with three or four races in total,” O’Sullivan said.

“We’ll probably prioritize the Group 1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on May 1."

O'Sullivan believes there are plenty of options including the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on February 28, a return trip to Chukyo for the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) on March 27.

Further afield there is the G1 Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Meydan or the G1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in Sydney.

Pins has been a dominant sire in Hong Kong for the last five seasons, winning the general sires premiership by prizemoney twice and finishing second and fourth in two other seasons.

His progeny have won almost 100 races in Hong Kong since 2010 led by Aerovelocity and his other champions Ambitious Dragon and National Treasure.