Having already soared through the grades in a short period of time, Tuchel (NZ) (Redwood) returned in style at Sha Tin on Sunday for a stirring win in the Class 2 1400m under Zac Purton.
A prolific winner with four wins from eight starts, the John Size-trained Tuchel made his Class 2 debut a winning one after enduring a tough, three-wide passage from gate 14 before extending to score by half a length over fellow four-year-old Galaxy Witness.
“I knew he had that ability but whether he was going to be able to produce that today, that was the question, he did it the tough way so that was a good effort,” Purton said.
Eligible for the 2023 Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Tuchel is now expected to boast a rating high enough to contest the HK$12 million Hong Kong Classic Mile should connections opt to send him there on 29 January.
“He won well. It was a difficult day to win off a bad gate and he did it in good style,” Size said.
“I don’t like making decisions after a race, but I’ll have a think about it overnight and we’ll work out what we’re going to do. He’s a racehorse and there’s nothing stopping him going around, so we’ll think about it.”
Tuchel was expected to last run in October over this distance in Class 3, however, he was found to be lame and subsequently scratched.
“It was a very good effort, he had a setback with the injury, he drew the outside gate and I wasn’t able to get in, I had to cop my medicine and just try to keep him nice and balanced and in a rhythm,” Purton said.
“He just enjoyed being back to the races, his attitude behind the gates, during the run – he was happy to be back and when he had to dig deep, he waited for me to ask him and he went and he didn’t change his leg either, it was a very big effort after such a long time off.”
Purton has three wins aboard Tuchel now but will instead partner Packing Treadmill in the first leg of the three-race HK$48 million series.
Tuchel was sold by Westbury Stud at the 2020 Karaka Book 2 sale for $130,000 to Simple Bloodstock Service.
Meanwhile, Caspar Fownes’ patience was rewarded as Daring Pursuit (NZ) (Shooting To Win) nailed a tidy victory under Vincent Ho in the first section of the Class 4 1200m.
“He was a bit unlucky in his first start and the team took their time with him, they didn’t rush him and we trialled him well. He’s still a very big baby, he didn’t want to come out in the straight but when I pulled him out he had a nice turn of foot again. There’s plenty to improve – he’s a nice, decent horse,” Ho said.
The Shooting To Win gelding copped interference last October on debut to finish an untested 11th.
Angus Chung combined with Tony Cruz when D Star (NZ) (Darci Brahma) staved off a late challenge from Joyful Genius to land the second section of the Class 4 1400m.
After finishing a weakening eighth on debut in December, Fun Together (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) surprised at odds of 142/1 with victory in the second section of the Class 4 1200m under Jerry Chau for trainer Benno Yung.
Jamie Richards moved to 10 wins this season after Asian One (NZ) (Ocean Park) broke through under Silvestre de Sousa in the Class 5 1400m, giving Richards a third win from the last three fixtures.
