Renowned soprano Li Jing Jing raised the curtain on Sha Tin’s National Day raceday but it was Bundle Of Joy who took centre stage. David Hall’s charge eclipsed higher profile rivals and announced his arrival in Pattern race company with a smart victory in the HKG3 National Day Cup (Handicap) today, Wednesday 1 October.

The powerful chestnut did not look out of place amongst the likes of G1 winners Amber Sky and Sterling City as he jig-jogged his way on to the sun-drenched turf pre-race. Successful in a Class 2 over the course and distance 17 days earlier, the five-year-old proved as much under a feather-weight 113lbs with a decisive two-length triumph in the 1000m contest, Hong Kong’s first Group race of the season.

Stablemate Rad, also carrying bottom-weight, was sent off the market pick and burst from the gate to grasp the lead. The unbeaten gelding set a swift tempo under Keith Yeung, with the Joao Moreira-ridden Amber Sky a close second on the fence, as Bundle Of Joy took up a stalking position inside his stablemate in third.

Rad folded at the 400m point, and as the 132lbs burden began to tell on the first-up Amber Sky, Bundle Of Joy stormed ahead under the in-form Vincent Ho, for whom this was also a first Group race triumph. Hall’s perceived second string had daylight on the field at the wire as fellow light-weights Peniaphobia (114lbs) and Super Jockey (113lbs) swamped fourth-placed Amber Sky to take second and third respectively, with just a short-head splitting the pair. The winning time was a sharp 55.38s.

Hall was “not too surprised” at the result, which took Bundle Of Joy’s record to six wins from 16 starts. “I think when it’s a handicap race the lighter weighted horses always get a little bit of an edge,” he said. “The horse has been in outstanding form and it’s probably as good as I’ve ever had him, so I knew he was going to run well. Against one of the world’s best sprinters at the distance (Amber Sky) it’s hard to get too confident, but I was very confident the horse was in terrific order.”

“Bundle Of Joy is going to step into the big league now. Winning with 113lbs and then going against those horses at set weights is another big hurdle for him, but that’s where we have to go,” he added.

As for Rad, who faded to finish over eight lengths last of nine, Hall said: “He was there for a long way and looked like he was probably a bit fresh, and running through the bridle a little bit, but when the pressure went on he wasn’t there. He’s proven that he can run that time but he’s a horse that has been very tough to place and he hasn’t had a lot of racing, and that’s probably one of the factors. Obviously I’ll be keeping a close eye on him from here on in.”

Charles The Great (131lbs) ran on to take fifth with Sterling City (133lbs) sixth on his seasonal return, four and three quarter lengths behind the winner.

Douglas Whyte rode a double on the card to take his tally for the season so far to five. The former champion scored on Plain Blue Banner (Race 4) and Hit A Home Run (R6). The former was the second leg of a double for David Ferraris, who also saddled Wrath Of Fire (R3) to victory. Reigning Champion Jockey Zac Purton also notched a brace, aboard Incredible Fellow (R1) and Brilliant Shine (R9), while premiership leader Joao Moreira hit the target in the last atop Khaya.