Nimble Nimbus (NZ) (Sacred Falls) powered to success in the HK$4.2 million Group Three Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Jumping from barrier five, Nimble Nimbus advanced to his sixth win from at his 27th start after Atzeni took the gelding to the outside of the field before denying Five G Patch by a head with Straight Arron an impressive third.
“He’s an amazing horse, he never gets beaten far and is very consistent no matter the distance,” Ricky Yiu said. “I always thought that this horse would go well over 1800m and Sha Tin is a better course than Happy Valley for him as it’s a longer straight. He was drawn wide last time and had a much better draw this time.”
Nimble Nimbus was sold from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2019 Karaka Book 1 Sale for $100,000 to trainer Yiu and became the eighth individual stakes for his late sire Sacred Falls.
Jockey Andrea Atzeni said: “I think the horse (Nimble Nimbus) deserved it – he’s been knocking on the door. He’s not had the best of luck with the draws and when I looked at the draw and we’d drawn five, I thought ‘Thank God, we’ve finally got a decent draw with him.’
“Ricky was very confident and he put no pressure on. He told me to ride him quiet and challenge as late as I could.”
Another winner on Sunday was Baby Crystal (NZ) (Per Incanto) for trainer Francis Lui in the Class 3 Cineraria Handicap (1000m). He was sold by Little Avondale Stud at the 2020 Karaka Book 2 Sale for $160,0000 to John Foote Bloodstock.
