First runner by the Coolmore Australia shuttler to race in Hong Kong
Douglas Whyte will have the first of American Pharoah’s (Pioneerof The Nile) progeny to race in Hong Kong when the former Aidan O’Brien-trained Congratulation runs in the Chinese New Year Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin.
The four-year-old, who was previously named Monarch Of Egypt, won once in Europe from eight starts and placed on another three occasions including finishing second Siskin (First Defense) in the 2019 Phoenix Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at the Curragh.
“I’m going in hopeful that he’ll run well, the way that he has progressively increased his competitiveness at the trials shows to me that he’s at the right frame both mentally and physically to run a race – it’s a small field, it’s a competitive field but he’s got the quality behind him,” Whyte said.
Congratulation arrived in Hong Kong in November and has barrier trialed three times since January 5.
“He’s settled in well and he’s a lovely horse – he’s obviously thrown in the deep end for his first run but having said that he’s had a very good grounding with three trials leading in to this and he’s progressively improved with every trial,” Whyte continued.
“He’s taken time to adjust – he’s been running on tracks with a bit of give in them and he’s hit the tracks here and it’s just taken time for him to adjust to the firmer tracks which he has done now.”
American Pharoah sired his first Australian-bred winner on Wednesday when the Chris Waller-trained Head Of State broke his maiden at Warwick Farm.
