Andreas Schutz has a promising horse in his yard after Honey King Prawn gave a good sight to come out second best behind exciting Happy Era in a Class Three over 1,4000m on a good-to-yielding surface on Sunday.
Honey King Prawn landed at Sha Tin off a mark of 66 following a win (1,100m) and a placing (1,000m) - both in Australia with a shadow roll and side-winkers on - as Instant Camera for trainer Jason Warren.
Schutz is never one to milk his new gallopers before their first appearances, but Honey King Prawn was given a solid preparation, including three trials.
He wasn't granted any favours when drawing widest out in the 14-horse field and went unnoticed at $830.
He showed good gate speed to slot in one off fence in second behind the good pace of Hi Molly at the 1,200m, approached the final bend three lengths off the leader while coming off the bridle, went to second at the 150m and kept on nicely to hold the fast-finishing Deep Thinker for the quinella spot. It was a good effort in defeat as he had to chase good fractions.
Honey King Prawn is a good-looking four-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus, who is mated to Mister Baileys mare Flowerdrum. Fusaichi Pegasus was a former Kentucky Derby winner and has fathered 23 winners from 39 local starters - top of the lot being Floral Pegasus. His dam, Flower Drum, was successful eight times at 1,400m and 1,600m in Britain and Australia, and has produced three winners.
The gelding has huge shoes to fill as his owner Lau Sak-hong had campaigned the hugely successful Fairy King Prawn and Jeune King Prawn, but he looks to be a nice performer when tackling longer journeys.
