by K.T. Donovan
Good Ba Ba outdueled Creachadoir on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse to win the $2,052,800 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) by a nose and earn his first career Group 1 victory.
Five-time German Derby-winning trainer Andreas Schutz, now based in Hong Kong, said Good Ba Ba possesses the best turn of foot of any horse he has trained. Teamed with Olivier Doleuze, whom Schultz considers Hong Kong’s strongest finishing jockey, the Hong Kong-based five-year-old Lear Fan gelding delivered a welcome win for the partisan Sha Tin crowd.
Kongo Rikishio went to the front as expected, while Hong Kong-based Able One and Down Town pressed from second and third, respectively, with Floral Pegasus threatening.
As the field straightened out, French and Irish classic-placed multiple group stakes winner Creachadoir and Good Ba Ba went head to head for the last 200 meters. The crowd erupted when Good Ba Ba emerged victorious by a nose, completing 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:34.50 on turf rated as good.
“He’s a great horse with a big heart,” said Doleuze, who posted his second win in the Hong Kong Mile. “I knew he would pick up as soon as I asked him, so I had to make sure we didn’t get to the front too soon. When Creachadoir came back on him, I asked him for the maximum, and he gave it to me. Now I celebrate with champagne!”
Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1) (French One Thousand Guineas) winner Darjina was boxed in but closed strongly when clear to finish another 1 ¼ lengths back in third. Group 1 winner Excellent Art, who entered off a runner-up finish in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park, never fired while finishing eighth.
Good Ba Ba means “good father,” and the name is owner John Yuen Se Kit’s homage to fathers who work hard and relax at the racetrack.
“He is the best miler I ever trained, and I have had this race in mind for him for a long time,” Schutz said. “This win puts you in the history books.”
Schutz will consider Dubai as the next step for Good Ba Ba, who has won ten of 23 career starts. He is out of the winning Zilzal mare Elle Meme.
K.T. Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer