Hong Kong racing’s fan favourite Pakistan Star is on the move, with the horse’s owner Kerm Din set to transfer the dual Group 1 winner from the stables of Tony Cruz to Paul O’Sullivan this week.
Known for being a popular yet flawed galloper, Pakistan Star has captured racing fans attention by displaying unusual mid-race antics, which led to be banned from racing by stewards on more than one occasion.
In April last year the son of Sharmadal turned it all around and won the Group 1 QEII Cup (2000m) and a month later took out the Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (2400m).
Since then, Pakistan Star has failed to recapture that form, and as a result Din has made the decision to refresh with the galloper and start again in O’Sullivan’s stable.
The South China Morning Post spoke to O’Sullivan and found out the kiwi trainer is excited to have a Group 1 star enter his stable.
“I caught up with (Kerm Din, Pakistan Star’s owner) for around an hour, he was very nice, well-spoken man and he wasn’t there saying ‘this has to happen or that has to happen,’ he handled it like a gentleman, wasn’t looking to blame anybody,” O’Sullivan told the South China Morning Post.
“When it comes to the Group One horses, I am a bit light on at the moment so I didn’t hesitate at all.
“It’s nice to have runners in the big races and he’s only six so there is plenty to go with him.
“He has been well followed, when he’s good he’s great but when he’s bad, he is disappointing, he is hard to get a line on.
“I have to get a hold of him, see what I think of him, these horses that arrive from a transfer, they generally arrive in very good order.
“I’ve got no plans for him at all, it’s only just happened so I will have to look at what is coming up.
“He is a little bit hit and miss, so we will see how we go with him.”
Pakistan Star has a rating of 121 and was voted Hong Kong’s most popular horse last season.
– Grace Ramage@gramage_
