Glorious start to Chinese New Year

Trainer John Size is sure his Hussonet gelding Glorious Days is headed for a Group 1 career in Hong Kong.

Glorious Days (4g Hussonet – San Century by Centaine) won for the fourth time in as many starts at Sha Tin on Wednesday.  With Douglas Whyte aboard, the former Kiwi took the length of the straight to nail long-time leader Bullish Champion in the Chinese New Year Cup.

Even though the winning margin was a mere short-head, the victory gave connections confidence for the future with the unbeaten gelding.  “Glorious Days has won so easily every time, the one thing John and I had discussed was how he would handle it when a fight did present itself,” Whyte explained.  “Whether he would put up his fists and box back.

“Well, he’s just answered that.  He didn’t handle the rain-affected track and was off the bit from the word go.  But when we turned for home, he let down tremendously and just got there right on the post.”

Glorious Days (NZ) cost $50,000 from Lyndhurst Farm at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  He is a younger half-brother to LR AJC Gimcrack Stakes winner Spurcent (Flying Spur) and an older brother to last start LR Gore Guineas winner Bangalore Bullet.

Glorious Days will get his chance in the big time in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on March 4.  “That looks the race to take on the Group 1 horses,” Size said as Whyte brought the winner back to scale.  “He showed plenty of character to get the leader when things weren’t suiting him.”

The Chinese New Year Cup has already launched some successful Group 1 careers.   The 2004 winner Figures went on to win the Champions Mile, Joyful Winner (2006) won the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Good Ba Ba (2007) developed into one of the greatest milers ever seen in Hong Kong.

Hussonet is currently standing at Cornerstone Stud by arrangement with Arrowfield Stud.  He has sired 28 Group 1 winners which is more than any other active stallion based in Australia.