LINGJUN HERO LOVES ROTORUA

Shut the gate, Lingjun Hero (3 c Spirit of Boom – Weekend Surprise, by Rubiton) was once again too slick around Rotorua circuit when winning $12,000 ISCL Rating 65 1215 metres on 3 March.

In late December, the same horse/jockey combination of Lingjun Hero and Taiki Yanagida dished it up to a Maiden field over 1215 metres, winning by three and a quarter lengths in 1:12.2, and virtual carbon copy saw 1:12.3 and victory by two and three-quarter lengths.

In the interim, his efforts up in grade for fourth and fifth, respectively, had been earnest when racing handily, but co-trainer Pam Gerard had intimated that leading may work best back at Rotorua.

Even noted speedster Ottavio (Makfi) had to wave the white flag when Lingjun Hero was intent on leading and it was apparent even 600m out, when pinging along, that his rivals were in trouble.

“Once he gets to the front he relaxes, so he’s able to kick again when they come to him and he’s much better ridden out there on his own, as he can become a bit coltish and lay on horses when he’s in amongst them,” Gerard said.

“He was well ridden by Taiki (Yanagida) and nifty on his feet, slick – the black arrow.

“For a colt he’s lucky not to be overly heavy, as they can be when they get to three year olds but he’s lighter and more athletic.

“We’ll have to pick and choose where we line him up in the next grade, because it doesn’t get any easier and you can often be undone against others if they also want to lead.

“His runs in the next grade after winning were good, when not leading, but I’d quite like to see him lead on another track, other than Rotorua, because I think he can do it anywhere.

“There is probably only one way to ride him and although it may not be pretty he’s shown it’s his way of getting the job done.”

Unable to get too much of a good thing, a day earlier connections celebrated success of stable-mate Lingjun Xiongfeng (The Factor) winning Maiden 1600 metres at Hastings, giving rise to a tilt at $260,000 Levin Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on NZ Oaks Day (19 March) at Trentham.

Lingjun Hero was bought for $45,000 by Amy Feng at 2020 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, from draft of KBL Thoroughbreds, and owned by Mr. Ma Junping, managed by Taniwha Club managing director Alan Fu.

By Champion Queensland Sire Spirit of Boom (Sequalo), dam Weekend Surprise won three times over 1000 metres in Australia. Incredibly, she has now left 10 individual winners of 25 races, including Group 3 winner Dan Baroness (State of Liberty) and listed winner Jagged Edge (Better Than Ready).

Lingjun Hero was strapped by Hera Singh.