Ballarat-based trainer Mitchell Freedman will chase a $100,000 bonus after his former Hong Kong-galloper Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi) took out the Gr.3 $250,000 Ladbrokes Hobart Cup (2400m) on Sunday.
A last start winner at Caulfield over 2000 metres on 8 January, the seven-year-old claimed the first of Tasmania’s feature Cups double with Victorian apprentice Tahlia Hope in the saddle.
Following the horse’s fourth start in Australia after transferring from Hong Kong, Freedman credited fellow trainer David Hall for the New Zealand-bred Ho Ho Khan ($5.50) making the successful transition.
“David Hall in Hong Kong suggested that the horse came here (to Australia) and we’re thankful for David doing that as he’s been a really good addition to the stable,” Freedman told tasracing.com.au.
“To win a feature race like this in Tasmania is a real thrill.
“He’s a really good horse and we were rapt with the way the track was presented.”
Despite the race being on Freedman’s radar for some time, it was only in the days prior that the decision was made to cross the Tasman Sea.
“We hadn’t had a run for a little bit, but he worked that good on Tuesday morning at Ballarat that we just had to bring him here,” Freedman said.
“He’s done well since he’s been here with Scott Brunton and Tahlia rode the horse perfectly.”
Hope noted that despite being caught in an awkward position midrace, Ho Ho Khan’s toughness was the difference to score by 4-lengths in 2:32.59 over In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) and White Hawk (Tough Speed) 1½-lengths away in third.
All being well after race day, Freedman is eyeing the rich bonus available should Ho Ho Khan also snare the Gr.3 Launceston Cup (2400m) on 23 February.
Bred by Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey from his former resident stallion Makfi, Ho Ho Khan did his early racing in New Zealand from the Tony Pike stable where he went under the name Mulanchi.
He won one of his four starts for Pike before being sold to his Hong Kong connections, where he was successful on four occasions before transferring to Freedman where he has added two further wins and now sports total career prizemoney of A$1.646 million.
Earlier on the card Kiwi-bred galloper More Than Exceed (NZ) (More Than Ready) took out the Listed Mills New Norfolk Thomas Lyon Stakes (1400m) in the hands of Ismail Toker for trainer Phillip Stokes.
The six-year-old More Than Ready gelding was bred locally under Dato Yap Kim San’s Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd banner out of their Exceed And Excel mare Exceedingly Ready and comes from the family of Gr.1 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Lady Of The Pines.