Natural Blitz captures Hong Kong Sprint

Natural Blitz led the way in the Sprint (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Lam Yin Kee's

NATURAL BLITZ (Maroof) captured his initial stakes score of the year in style on

Sunday when the

five-year-old annexed the $1.28 million Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) at Sha Tin Racecourse. Sprinting out

to the early lead under jockey Glyn Schofield, last

year's Sprint third-placer withstood rallies from all oncomers through splits of

:13 1/5 and :34 2/5 before completing five furlongs in :57 3/5 over the good to

firm turf.

"I was surprised there was so little in the pressure in the race,"

Schofield said. "I guess a lot of the field thought they were going to

get a trail off me because he hasn't been so strong in the final 200

meters before. But he was today! He was able to fill the tank a bit

while in front and he finished strongly."

The Derek Cruz trainee had drawn away by 1 3/4 lengths by the time he

hit the wire, earning his first Group 1 victory in the process.

"It's my first Group 1 winner and I'm very, very proud," Cruz said. "He is a

small horse and the key with him has not been to overwork him. I though his last

run was good when he was over on the far rail and the plan today was to drift to

the center of the track and Glyn did it perfectly."

The name Cruz has lasting fame in the Sprint, though this was Derek's

first Group 1 win. His brother Tony, however, has received worldwide

recognition as the trainer of Silent Witness (El Moxie), the hero of

past of the two runnings of the Sprint. Tony Cruz is also the trainer of

Country Music (Danzero), who came home fourth in Saturday's Sprint.

Planet Ruler (Danehill) brought up the place with Able Prince (Hurricane Sky)

grabbing third in a photo over Country Music. Cape of Good Hope (Inchinor

[GB]), Benbaun (Stravinsky), Absolute Champion (Marauding), Chineur (Fasliyev),

Warcat (Felix the Cat), Nipping (Night Shift), Admire Max (Sunday Silence) and

Nicole's Dream (Northern Trend) rounded out the order of finish.