Aerovelocity Doesn't Miss a 'Beat'

With overseas victories in the 2015 G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in Japan and in the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore, Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) stood to earn a US$1-million bonus if he could successfully defend his title in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint last month. But fate intervened, as the talented short-tracker was knocked down by an irregular heartbeat, and it was time to regroup and start anew in Sunday's Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin. And if Sunday's performance is a harbinger of things to come, the rest had better lift their games.

After leading throughout to best Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in the 2014 Hong Kong Sprint, Aerovelocity was narrowly defeated by Christophe Soumillon and Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) in the Chairman's Sprint Prize last February. Aerovelocity overcame ground easier than he prefers and some of Japan's top sprinters when knifing through late to win the Takamatsunomiya Kinen last March and added a soft win in the KrisFlyer to close out the season. He was no better than a 16-1 chance and did not exactly enjoy the confidence of the Paul O'Sullivan stable when first-up in the Premier Bowl H. Oct. 25, but he ran no sort of race, was diagnosed with the heart problem and hadn't been seen since. His box became something of a cardiac unit, as Aerovelocity was carefully monitored. Sunday's race was less heart-stopping, excepting a stewards' inquiry into the stretch run.

Peniaphobia, last-out winner of the Hong Kong Sprint, caught a flyer away from there and led early from Aerovelocity, but Domineer (GB) (Shamardal) and one-time star Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) crossed over to lead, giving both some crucial cover. Joao Moreira popped the question on Peniaphobia in upper stretch and he put away both front-runners with ease, but Zac Purton had Aerovelocity well in hand as they joined in with 250 meters to race. The Kiwi-bred drifted in entering the final furlong, hampering Peniaphobia on two separate occasions, but he stretched away to score by daylight, as Gold-Fun picked up the pieces for second. Stewards looked at the incident, but ultimately allowed the result to stand, though Purton was handed a three-meeting suspension [Feb. 6-18].

“I wouldn't say I enjoyed the last 200 metres because I had a bit of a wrestle with him trying to keep him off the fence,” said the winning rider. “He gave me a difficult ride, but I did the best I could and he won pretty comfortably in the end.”

Though he was ambitiously campaigned last spring, O'Sullivan suggested a more conservative plan may be in the works this time around.

“I haven't thought one day past today,” he said. “I know what the options are and we'll probably prioritise the race back here in May 1 [G1] Chairman's Sprint Prize but I haven't even sat down and worked out the dates. It's a great thrill today for him to come back.”

Click for the HKJC.com chart. VIDEO.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CENTENARY SPRINT CUP, HK$8,000,000 (US$1,026,541), Sha Tin, 1-31, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.36, gd.
1–AEROVELOCITY (NZ), 126, g, 7, Pins (Aus)–Exodus (NZ), by Kaapstad (NZ). (NZ$120,000 Ylg '10 NZBPRE). O-Daniel Yeung Ngai; B-N E Schick & S J Till; T-Paul O'Sullivan; J-Zac Purton; HK$4,560,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Sprinter-HK, G1SW-HK, Jpn & Sin, 20-11-4-1, HK$33,787,368.
2–Gold-Fun (Ire), 126, g, 7, Le Vie Dei Colori (GB)–Goodwood March (GB), by Wolfhound. (10,000gns Ylg '10 TATOCT). O-Pan Sutong. HK$1,760,000.
3–Peniaphobia (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dandy Man (Ire)–Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion. (€11,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 Ylg '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen. HK$920,000.Margins: 1HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 15-2, 7-5, 8-5.

Also Ran: Frederick Engels (GB), Charles the Great (Ire), I'm In Charge (Aus), Not Listenin'tome (Aus), Strathmore (Aus), Secret Sham (Aus), Super Jockey (NZ), Domineer (GB), Amber Sky (Aus). Scratched: Lucky Nine (Ire).