Passage to Hong Kong confirmed

Group One winner Summer Passage won’t be returning to New Zealand, but he will be staying in the family.

The Hong Kong-based Paul O’Sullivan is to guide the future career of the colt, who has been trained by his brother Lance and his Matamata training partner Andrew Scott.

“The owner has a permit to race there that he has to fill by December 22 so he’s going up to Paul,” O’Sullivan said.

“He was originally bought to go to Hong Kong and, at that time, we didn’t envisage winning a Group One here so it was a privilege to do that. Who knows, he might be back at some stage.”

Currently spelling in New South Wales on Hong Kong owner Eugene Chuang’s Hermitage Thoroughbreds property, Summer Passage showed his quality when he was successful in last season’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.

He also won the Listed Reid & Harrison Slipper (1200m) at Matamata and closed out his two-year-old season with a runner-up finish in the Gr.1 Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

The son of Snitzel made four appearances in Melbourne this spring with his best effort a second placing in the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).