Group 1 Success for Sapphire Sale Graduate

RED LION gained a deserved first Group 1 when striking in the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The six-year-old, trained by John Size, had proven himself a consistent top-tier performer over the past 18 months, finishing placed in three Group 1 races but this win on Sunday saw him gain an elusive first Group 1 victory.

Owned by the former Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman Ronald Arculli and his wife Johanna, Red Lion overcame a wide draw and was sent to the front early by rider Hugh Bowman. He faced a persistent challenge from the four-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble inside the last furlong, but prevailed with a short-head to spare.

The son of Belardo is a graduate of the 2020 Sapphire Sale where he was purchased as a yearling from the Harney family’s Ballybeg Stables by Athnid Stud. He commenced his racing career at Andrew Slattery’s Meadowview Stables named Fiach McHugh, and broke his maiden at Dundalk in April 2022. He added to that win with victory in a three-year-old handicap at the Tattersalls Guineas Festival six weeks later.

He was subsequently purchased by his current connections having run creditably in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. It was a sixth victory at Sha Tin and an eighth career win in total for the remarkably versatile Red Lion.

The success of RED LION in the Group 1 Champions Mile sees his career earnings reach almost £3.5 million. The Sapphire Sale from which he was purchased moves to a new date this year, and is scheduled to take place on December 16^th.

Also over the weekend September Yearling Sale graduate YO MAURO won the Spanish 2,000 Guineas (Poule de Potros) at Madrid’s La Zarzuela racecourse.

The three-year-old, by Saxon Warrior, hails from an Aga Khan family, with his dam being a half-sister to the Group 2 Blandford Stakes winner Eziyra.

He was purchased at the 2023 September Yearling Sale from Tally-Ho Stud by Spanish trainer Guillermo Arizkorreta for €52,000. It was a fourth win in the race for Arizkorreta, who was training the winner for the second successive year.