Paul O'Sullivan joins Sha Tin celebrations after Fast Network's explosive win
Paul O'Sullivan was back in familiar territory to join in on the celebrations of his former galloper Fast Network's explosive four-length victory in Sunday's Class Two Barker Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin.
Originally owned by O'Sullivan, the son of Wrote was snapped up by Hong Kong connections on the back of an impressive trial victory in New Zealand.
O'Sullivan trained more than 500 winners over 18 years in Hong Kong, headlined by five-time Group One-winning sprinter Aerovelocity and Vital King who won the 2007 Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).
'My brother [Lance] and I owned him,' O'Sullivan said of Fast Network. 'He had a couple of trials and was then sold to Hong Kong.'
Fast Network's latest start coincided with O'Sullivan's once-a-year return to the city and the gelding's trainer, Dennis Yip Chor-hong, made sure he was front and centre in the winners' enclosure.
After stepping a touch slowly, Fast Network scythed his way through the small field of seven from last under Hugh Bowman to justify $1.45 favouritism.
He cruised past Zac Purton's mount Bottomuptogether to lead passing the 200m and drew clear to beat that galloper by four lengths, notching his fifth success at start 10.
'Before this race, I told Zac I would run him on April 14 but with only six runners in this race, I needed to put him in,' Yip said after entering Fast Network during the closing time extension period.
Last out and first home! 👌
Exciting sprinter Fast Network crushes his rivals as 1.4 favourite with @HugeBowman for Dennis Yip at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/UO6zynrgfl — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025
'His rating will go up 10 or 12 [points] so he won't be able to run on April 14 now. He'll be over 100 now.'
Fast Network was not entered for the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) on April 27. Supplementary entries for the sprint close on April 7, but Yip said he wasn't sure of upcoming plans for the four-year-old.
'I think 1,200m or 1,400m [is his best trip]. [Christophe] Soumillon told me the mile is his maximum, so he's better at 1,200m or 1,400m,' Yip said.
Forza forges ahead
Jamie Richards believes the best is yet to come from La Forza after the three-year-old passed his first Class Three test with flying colours on Sunday.
Fresh from a dominant first-up win which came with a 10-point ratings penalty, La Forza continued his winning ways under Zac Purton in the Harlech Handicap (1,000m).
The son of Toronado ran on from just off the leaders to salute as the $2.5 favourite, beating Circuit Jolly by a length and a quarter.
'He's going well. He's a horse who raced as a Griffin and he's just needed a little bit of time to toughen up,' Richards said after La Forza improved his record to three wins from five starts.
'It's always hard for a horse to win when they're coming off a 10-pound penalty, but he's come out and delivered again today.
'Whatever he does this season is going to be a bonus for what I think he'll be able to do next season as a four-year-old.
'At the moment [I'll keep him to 1,000m] but in time he will get further. I don't think we need to be changing a winning formula at the moment. I'm looking forward to the future with him.'
Paradise clings on
Little Paradise backed up his strong trial form to score a fighting win on debut in the second section of the Class Four Plantation Handicap (1,200m).
An impressive winner of his two most recent trials, the Toronado three-year-old did a bit of work early to cross from barrier 13 to lead for Luke Ferraris before drawing clear in the straight.
While he was tiring late, he did enough to hold on and beat the fast-finishing Beauty Missile by a head.
'He's a nice horse. He still isn't mature,' Ting said of Little Paradise, who won a Randwick trial for trainer Bjorn Baker before he was sold to Hong Kong connections.
'He drew wide and got keen when the jockey pushed him out. After this race he will improve. I'll keep him to 1,200m for now because he's still young and I think he'll be better as a four-year-old.
'We don't need to hurry for the next race, he'll probably have a trial to learn more and run again six weeks from now.'
Benno's belated double
Trainer Benno Yung Tin-pang fired in his first brace of the season, saving his best until last by winning the final two races on Sunday's card with Aeris Nova and Another World.
Back with a bang! @zpurton fires home his third winner of the afternoon aboard a talented Another World for Benno Yung... 🙌#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/tm1C0fYmoT — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 30, 2025
Aeris Nova caused an upset in the Class Three Homestead Handicap (1,200m), knocking off the $1.4 favourite Crossborderpegasus by a short head when starting an $18.9 chance.
Another World scored his third win this term when he justified $1.8 favouritism with a comfortable success in the Class Three Lugard Handicap (1,400m).
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