HOT KING PRAWN
23rd December 2017
Price Bloodstock’s excitement machine, Hot King Prawn made it five from five as he scored again at Sha Tin on Saturday and trainer John Size said the grey has earned a break.
He didn’t win by any big margin this time but he never looked like losing either, parked on the lead by regular jockey Zac Purton and drawing clear by more than a length.
Size said he is never that keen to run immature three-year-olds against Class 2 opposition but Hot King Prawn had been good enough to land the win and a $750,000 high achievement bonus from the Jockey Club for owner Philip Lau, taking the horse’s stakes past $4 million with the best still ahead.
“I had no intention of running him again for a while after his last win but this race was a bit too tempting. He got away with it but he is living proof of the difference between Class 3 and Class 2,” Size said. “He’s been winning by big margins in the other races but in Class 2, you can’t look as good. They can all gallop in Class Two, it’s that simple.”
Purton also acknowledged the difference in the grade this time and said Hot King Prawn was looking for a holiday.
“He was just starting to drop his head near the post,” he said. “He’s come a long way quickly and it’s probably a good thing that there’s not much around for him now so he can have a rest.”
Price Bloodstock principal David Price pointed out that the stylish grey was well ahead of any schedule that might be compared to the great Silent Witness, another Price Bloostock horse.
“We’re here three days from Boxing Day and Hot King Prawn has won five races and he has won in Class 2 already as a three-year-old – at the same stage as a three-year-old, Silent Witness was about to have his first race on Boxing Day!” Price said.
In all likelihood, Hot King Prawn now won’t be seen again until May.
“Hot King Prawn had to fight off some experienced, tough older horses today – I didn’t expect any more than that and I’m happy. Now he’ll have a good break, he might have a race or two towards the end of the season and then we hope he comes back even stronger as a four-year-old,” Size explained.
