First Win for Blue-Blood Encosta

Scoring a barnstorming win at Ballarat on Thursday was a blue-blooded son of Encosta de Lago in China Delight (3g Encosta de Lago x Romantic River, by Irish River) . The Tony Vasil trained gelding was having his fourth start and his second run back from a long spell and showed the benefit of the break when he unleashed a sizzling finishing burst to mow down the leaders and win the 1600 metre maiden by a length running away. “That was a good win, but unfortunately it will be the last we see of him as he is going to Hong Kong,” revealed Tony Vasil. “He’s only had the two starts for me and the plan was always Hong Kong if he measured up and he has. “He’ll be better over further too as I think he’s more a mile and a quarter horse or further.” A $500,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Magus Equine from the Coolmore draft, China Delight is a half-brother to $1.9 million dollar earner and Group I winner Aqua D’Amore. China Delight is the fifth winner from Romantic River (USA), who is due to foal to Fastnet Rock this spring.