Hong Kong winner for Geisel Park

Wednesday, 17 May 2017 - Hard Ball Get remains one of the success stories of the 2011 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

He changed hands for $62,000 out of the Geisel Park draft and his Hong Kong earnings reached $2.48 million (AUD 426,990) after a powerful win at Sha Tin on Saturday.

The Sunspeed-bred sprinter was the second of five winners for Zac Purton at the Chairman’s Stakes meeting. “It looked a good day on paper and fortunately my horses were in good form and brought it to the races,” he said after guiding the grey galloper to a one-length win in the Cheung Cup (1400m).

“Hard Ball Get looked a bit tricky from the bad draw as there appeared no speed in the race. Things like that have ended up messy for him in the past but it turned out well today. He appreciated the rain around and let down nicely with the cut in the ground.”

Hard Ball Get (Aussie Rules) is trained by Aussie-expat David Hall for Anthony Cheung. He had won three races for Aquanita trainer Simon Miller in Perth and signed off with a Group 3 victory in the Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic.

His younger half-sister Puteri Jewel (Demerit) was an Ascot 2yo winner for Aquanita Racing and another half-sister Diraja Jewel (Demerit) won a York maiden earlier this season after failing to meet a $40,000 reserve when offered by Geisel Park at the 2015 Perth Magic Millions.

Their dam Aqua Velva (Spectrum) is owned by Darryl Litton of Hamlin Bay Thoroughbreds and she was covered by Snippetson last year.