AS YOU WILL SOLD TO HONG KONG

Hong Kong snaps up hot prospect

Smart three-year-old As You Will is to continue his fledgling career overseas.

The handsome grey three-year-old placed in two of his five appearances for trans-Tasman trainers Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard with his last-start second in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) prompting a successful offshore bid.

“He’s a stunning looking horse and he’s been sold to Hong Kong,” Gerard said.

As You Will had been on target for a start in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), won at Riccarton on Saturday by the well-related Savabeel colt Embellish.

“I think he would have been very competitive down there,” Gerard said.

A son of Mastercraftsman and the stakes winner Comme Tu Veux, he was a $75,000 purchase at Karaka last year for Moroney’s brother Paul.

The Hong Kong deal was brokered by the Cambridge-based Waterford Bloodstock with As You Will to join Michael Freedman’s stable.

Meanwhile, Group One performer Savile Row has returned to Gerard’s care following an unrewarded three-start campaign with Moroney in Australia.

“Mentally, I still think he is a bit soft for that type of environment,” Gerard said.

“We had good reports from the jockeys there despite things not going his way.

“He returned to work this week and we’ll target the weight-for-age race he ran so well in last season.”

Gerard was referring to the son of Makfi’s runner-up finish behind Volkstok’n‘barrell in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

Bred and raced by Kevin Hickman, Savile Row also posted Group One seconds in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Levin Classic (1600m).

Gerard said Savile Row may head to Trentham for the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) ahead of the Herbie Dyke. – NZ Racing Desk.