After refusing to race twice in Hong Kong, 8YO gelding Pakistan Star was sent to Dubai trainer Doug Watson.
But the galloper hasn’t changed his tricks, reports punters.com.au.
Pakistan Star in action in Hong Kong (Pic – HKJC)
Pakistan Star had his second start for Watson on Sunday at Abu Dhabi in the Listed National Day Cup and decided not to run after jumping from the gates, brushing another runner, and then pulling himself up and stopping within the first furlong.
Germany-born Pakistan Star won on debut in sensational fashion in July 2016, coming from long last to win.
Watch that here:
On March 2, 2013, a star was born.
Pakistan Star started life at Gestüt Wittekindshof in Sauerland, Germany.
When the Jockey Club’s Hong Kong International Sale director, Mark Richards, spotted the son of Shamardal at the 2014 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale he saw a rough diamond. The hand-scrawled notes in his catalogue read “Fat, raw, up behind but quality”.
The Jockey Club paid €180,000 for the youngster with a view to on-selling him at the Hong Kong International Sale.
But at the 2016 Hong Kong International breeze-up in March 2016, Lot 14 caused a stir for the first time, for all the wrong reasons. When it came time to gallop in front of prospective buyers the gelding stopped and refused to move past the 1400m mark before handlers were forced to chase the reluctant participant along.
At only his ninth start (with three wins under his belt), Pakistan Star ran second in the 2017 Listed Hong Kong Derby.
The enigmatic galloper was crowned Champion Stayer in Hong Kong for the 2017/18 season.
He raced consistently until November 2018 when he first stopped mid-race in the Gr3 Sasa Ladies Purse.
After failing to finish in the 2019 Gr2 Jockey Club Sprint, he was sent to Dubai.
In his first start there, Pakistan Star ran fourth in the Listed Entisar Stakes over 2000m.
All up, he’s won five of his 28 starts.
- Breeding & Racing
