Celebrated racehorse Fairy King Prawn will say goodbye to Hong Kong and enjoy its retirement in the green pastures of New Zealand.
After almost 14 years in the city, the first Hong Kong-trained horse to win a top overseas race will make the move in September.
The two-time Hong Kong horse of the year was bought in Australia in August 1997 by owner Philip Lau Sak-hong and his wife, and retired from the track in 2001.
An owner of more than 30 racehorses, Lau said his best memory of his favourite horse was its win of Japan's Yasuda Kinen in 2000 when Fairy King Prawn became the first Hong Kong-owned racehorse to taste top-flight success overseas.
'At that time I was overjoyed and so moved by its never-give-up spirit,' he said.
A farewell for the 15-year-old gelding - an age equivalent to 60 for a human - will be held at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Tuen Mun Public Riding School next Sunday.
Visitors will be able to collect a souvenir card with Fairy King Prawn's unique horseshoe stamp.