Australian bred Deep Field gelding Self Improvement was the pride of Hong Kong on Sunday when the Manfred Man trained gelding captured the Group III Seoul Korea Sprint (1200m) in South Korea, while at the first Sha Tin meeting of a new season Brutal featured with a promising winner.
Self Improvement started his career in Sydney trained by Chris Waller and was a Newcastle and Gold Coast winner under the name of Taurids back in 2022.
Sold through Inglis Digital in 2023 for $105,000 to KK Bloodstock, he was then sent to Hong Kong and has proven a consistent sprinter racking up another four wins the most recent at Sha Tin on March 9.
Ridden by Jerry Chau in Korea, the six year-old handled the dirt surface to surge home and win by half a length taking his overall record to seven wins and six placings from 34 starts.
The Hong Kong press room in as much shock as anyone as Self Improvement takes the G3 Korea Sprint for Manfred Man and Jerry Chau!@korearacing @HKJC_Racing @HongKong_Racing pic.twitter.com/HIMBQ2jkn3
— Idol Horse (@idolhorsedotcom) September 7, 2025
Foaled and raised at Newgate for his breeder Alan Bell, Self Improvement sod for $380,000 in the Newgate draft at Magic Millions for $380,000 to Hawkes Racing.
He is the best of three winners from three foals to race from Jerry’s Witness, a winning three-quarter sister-in-blood by Star Witness to Group II winner Star Turn.
Self Improvement is the 41st stakes-winner for now pensioned reigning champion Hong Kong sire Deep Field.
Brutal kicked off the new HK season in style with talented four year-old Super Strong Kid winning the Class 4 sprint over 1000m as a hot favourite.
Trained by Manfred Man and ridden by Zac Purton he won by three-quarters of a length in a tick over 56 seconds.
A $48,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Twin Hills Stud for Blossom Trading & Breeding Co / H B Chan, Super Strong Kid has two wins and a second from three starts and looks to have a bright future.
Brutal has had three winners from five starters in Hong Kong.
