Being the half-brother to a Hong Kong racing legend ensures plenty of interest in the debut performance of Best Choice at Canterbury on Wednesday.By Redoute's Choice out of Jade Tiara, the colt is a half-brother to champion Silent Witness who won his first 17 races between 2002 and 2005."I've been looking forward to getting him to the races for about eight months," trainer Clarry Conners said."I'm sure other people are going to be interested in seeing him too."Conners found himself in a similar
Being the half-brother to a Hong Kong racing legend ensures plenty of interest in the debut performance of Best Choice at Canterbury on Wednesday.
By Redoute's Choice out of Jade Tiara, the colt is a half-brother to champion Silent Witness who won his first 17 races between 2002 and 2005.
"I've been looking forward to getting him to the races for about eight months," trainer Clarry Conners said.
"I'm sure other people are going to be interested in seeing him too."
Conners found himself in a similar position almost 14 years ago when he took Mouawad to Canterbury for his first start on October 16, 1996.
A full-brother to Octagonal who had already won a Cox Plate and the Sydney autumn three-year-old triple crown, Mouawad duly won by 6-1/2 lengths.
He went on to win three Group One races and ended his career with the enviable record of seven wins from eight starts.
Silent Witness established himself as the world's best sprinter and a legend to the people of Hong Kong.
While it's early days, Conners says three-year-old Best Choice has shown his fair share of talent ahead of his race debut in the Hyland Race Colours Maiden Handicap (1250m).
Best Choice had two barrier trials in April and was set to make his debut but shin-soreness forced Conners to bypass a two-year-old campaign to give the colt more time to mature.
The four-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer believes that extra time has been beneficial.
"He's a very nice horse, a big horse, and I think he has a future," Conners said.
"Canterbury might not be the right track for him but I've decided to go there and we'll see how he goes.
"He's going along pretty good and he's done what I've asked him to do."
The Anthony Cummings-trained dual Group One placegetter Sister Madly is a full-sister to Best Choice and is nominated to run in the Group Three Research Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Conners said Best Choice, who stands at around 16.2 hands, was giving the impression he was more of a miler than a sprinter like his illustrious half-brother.
Best Choice won an 804-metre barrier trial at Warwick Farm on August 23 when ridden by Peter Robl who'll be on board at Canterbury.