NZ bred Karaka graduate Aashiq secured his second stakes victory of the season s in the G3 Premier Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday night.

Ridden by former NZ-based jockey Mark Du Plessis, Aashiq led all the way to win the 1400 metre feature by over a length.  “He’s had problems with heart irregularities and this is certainly a career highlight,” trainer Paul O’Sullivan said.

“He’s not going to beat these horses at set weights but it was a handicap and they were giving him a lot of weight.  He was given his own way in front and was perfectly ridden by Mark.”

Aashiq (6g Viking Ruler – Join The Fun by Rory’s Jester) won the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup over the same course and distance on New Year’s Day and went into last night’s race after a tough run in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) behind Lucky Nine (Dubawi).

Aashiq was purchased by Lance O’Sullivan from Brighthill Farm at NZ Bloodstock’s 2007 Carnival Sale for $40,000.  He has since won 5 of his 24 starts for over $940,000 in stakes.

Viking Ruler (Danehill) retired to Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud and is now based at Mornmoot Stud in Victoria.