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Son of Zacinto impresses in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Trainer Benno Yung enjoyed a bumper day at the office on Sunday, sending out a treble including the impressive son of Zacinto, Not Usual Talent, which landed the final event on the card.

Having earlier provided Joao Moreira with his 800th Hong Kong career win aboard Class 4 galloper Such A Happiness, Yung also sent out Ka Ying Master and jockey Keith Yeung to land the Class 4 D’Aguilar Handicap (1000m).

The same rider was in the saddle when Not Usual Talent tore down the home straight for a cosy win in the Class 2 Staunton Handicap (1600m), upstaging his rivals which included former Australian Group One performer Thinkin’ Big.

The race was run at a sizzling pace which suited the son of Zacinto who was aided by a light-weight, stopping the clock only 0.32 of a second slower than Beauty Generation’s track record.

“We got a decent draw (six) and it looked like there was going to be a lot of speed. I told Keith he had to ride him quietly because they were probably going to go very fast,” Yung told the South China Morning Post.

“He has got more to give, we will need to test him more (before we know how good he can be),” he said.

The consistent four-year-old has proven capable from a mile up to 2000m and Yung expects a better horse next season.

A graduate of Ascot Farm’s 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, Not Usual Talent has won two races and placed on three occasions since moving to Hong Kong.

Raced by Chinese businessman Hongwei Chen, Not Usual Talent won two races in New Zealand at three from the Stephen Marsh stable.