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Marine to Hong Kong; ​​​​​​​Innes pleased to climb aboard Belltree; Former Hong Kong stars begin new career;

Marine to Hong Kong

The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained Marine has been sold to clients of Hong Kong trainer Caspar Fownes and will do his future racing in the Asian racing jurisdiction.

The three-year-old son of Ocean Park has had just four starts, winning on debut before placing behind Zoltan when racing greenly.

Runner-up in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) behind Vitesse Bo, Marine over-raced in the early and middle stages of the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), clipping the heel of rival Lord Ardmore and nearly dislodging rider Michael McNab, yet remarkably still finished third behind Aegon.

The gelding, who was part-owned by Diane Pitman, follows Guineas runner-up Bourbonaire who has also recently been sold to Hong Kong.

"He has been sold," Michael Pitman confirmed.

"He is a lovely horse with a lot of upside, and I hope he does well for his new connections."

The leading Southern stable were in action at the recent New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, where they went to $110,000 to secure an Ocean Park gelding out of Flying Change from Kilgravin Lodge as they look to replenish their stocks.

"I was active at the Ready To Run Sales and we had a syndicate of 10 people that put up $25,000 each and I bought another Ocean Park, a Tavistock and a Tarzino with a view to looking at racing and selling them as well," Pitman said.

"Originally it was only going to be 10 in the syndicate, but with an over-whelming response, it blew out to 12. We had no trouble syndicating them, which is encouraging."

Innes pleased to climb aboard Belltree

Jockey Leith Innes has a quality book of rides at Ellerslie on Saturday, including promising three-year-old Jason Belltree in the day's feature, the Gr.3 Mitchell Family Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m).

The Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley-trained son of Ferlax has won two of his three starts to date and was denied by a nose at Ellerslie two starts ago when beaten by Power On in a sit-and-sprint affair.

Innes rode the handsome colt for the first time when successful at Counties over 1200m last start.

"He's a horse that is aiming towards the Derby (Gr.1,2400m)," Innes said.

"I rode him on Tuesday morning and his work was first-class.

"There are a couple of nice horses in there like Moana that will be hard to roll, but he is a great chance.

"He has had a race around Ellerslie before and he handled it well two starts ago, so I'm very happy to be riding him," he said.

Jason Belltree is a solid second elect at $3.80 behind Moana, who has been backed into $2.50 with TAB bookmakers after opening at $3.80.

Former Hong Kong stars begin new career

Trentham racecourse will host the first appearance of NZ Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) welfare ambassadors Werther and Ping Hai Star on Saturday.

The duo, both former Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winners, are retired from racing and currently enjoy life as "nannies" at Palmerston North's Highden Park.

Libby Bleakley, who along with husband Sam owns Highden Park, was delighted the geldings would be given the opportunity to promote horse welfare and the many opportunities available for retired thoroughbreds.

"These horses love having something to do, they love having a job. They look after weanlings for us and they go on the truck to keep mares company, and I think they will thrive with this next step," she said.

Werther, a dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year, and Ping Hai Star, who fashioned a brilliant record from a limited career in Hong Kong, will be paraded after the second race at Trentham, around 1.20pm.

Online bloodstock sales company gavelhouse.com is also supporting the welfare ambassadors, having decked both horses out with custom made halters.

The concept of Welfare Ambassadors is a new one for NZTR and is part of an ongoing programme around welfare and traceability.

"While those within the industry are well aware of the fact that our thoroughbreds, even in retirement, are extremely well looked after and often go on to rewarding second careers in other equestrian pursuits, there is a lot of misinformation out there," Martin Burns, NZTR's GM Welfare & Sustainability said.

"Allowing people to see horses like Werther and Ping Hai Star who have been foaled in New Zealand, raced here and offshore, and have now come back here to retire, helps reinforce the message that thoroughbreds are for life."

Our Big Mike chases second Pakenham Cup

Mornington trainer Brett Scott is hoping to add another country Cup to his recent haul with Kiwi galloper Our Big Mike, who is also aiming for his second Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) victory.

Two years ago, Our Big Mike led throughout to win the race for his New Zealand trainer Craig Phelan.

This campaign, Our Big Mike has been prepared by Scott, who is aiming for his third country Cups win in six weeks.

Our Big Mike won the Moe Cup three starts ago but at his most recent outing finished last behind stablemate Irish Flame in the Ballarat Cup (2000m).

On that occasion he led but was under pressure a long way out and finished a distant last.

Scott explained that Our Big Mike would have finished closer if he wasn't checked in the straight.

"I think he would have beaten four or five and the run wouldn't have looked that bad except he was checked with 200m to go. He was beaten but he was still battling away," Scott said.

"Still, I think he was outclassed in that sort of race but the Pakenham Cup is slightly easier."

Our Big Mike will be reunited with heavyweight jockey Noel Callow, who rode him to victory in the Moe Cup.

Scott said Our Big Mike wouldn't be changing his on-speed style of racing and would most likely take up the lead.

"He'll go forward but Noel will have to keep an eye on Gai Waterhouse's Knights Order who also leads," Scott said.

"We might have to take a sit on it but that's up to Noel."

Scott said if the predicted rain eventuated that would also play into Our Big Mike's favour as he is better on wet tracks.

He also confirmed Ballarat Cup winner Irish Flame would have a short break before coming back for the Sydney autumn carnival.

Scott said the Sydney Cup could prove a bridge too far for him next preparation.

"I'll set him for the Chairman's Stakes at Randwick and take it from there. Hopefully he can take advantage of the wet tracks," Scott said.

Scott said he would love to get Irish Flame into the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) next spring.