Sensational Hong Kong Debut for Nervous Witness

Champion trainer David Hayes has a high opinion of Star Witness four year-old Nervous Witness, who kicked off his career with a sparkling three length debut victory over 1000m at Sha Tin on Sunday under Zac Purton.

Sporting the same colours as famed by Hong Kong world champion sprinter Silent Witness, Nervous Witness clocked a slick 55.71s without being asked to extend.

Hayes labelled Nervous Witness as “the most impressive debut I’ve had since I’ve been back in Hong Kong.”

“That was pretty easy as you like. Apart from his trial he’s never been let go, so that’s what is so exciting about the horse – he hasn’t been drilled down for the race. You don’t see Zac Purton look around that many times do you,” Hayes said.

“I could have run him last season and I just thought he would be better as a second-season horse with a trial and then a back off then a build-up. He’ll go through the classes pretty quickly I think, I expect him to win a few in a row.”

Purton was also full of praise for Nervous Witness.

“As far as first starters go, for the good ones, that’s what you expect them to do, right?” Purton said.

“It was just a matter of seeing how he would handle race day. He was a little bit on edge in the parade. He’s got a little bit to learn. He’s obviously blessed with natural ability, he moves well. He was strong through the line so he’s an exciting horse going forward.”

A $110,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Southern Cross Breeders draft, Nervous Witness is the second winner from Hadiklaim, a metro winner by War Pass (USA) that goes back to a US Black Type family.