Hard Empire kicked off the 2022-2023 racing season in Sydney with bang when he charged down the center of the course to post claim a half-length victory in the G2 Missile Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, 6 August.
Sent off as a 70-1 outsider in the field of 12, the nine-year-old Hard Spun gelding belied his age, showing an impressive turn-of-foot to fly past Wandabaa and Gem Song in the final strides to get the victory. The win in the G2 Missile was the third Graded/Group Stakes win for Hard Empire, joining his earlier victories in the G3 George Moore Stakes and G3 R N Irwin Stakes.
Bred in Australia by Mr. K.R. Landale, Hard Empire is out of Last Quill, by Last Tycoon. Hard Empire is closely related to Power Trip (by Hard Spun), winner of the G3 Maribyrnong Plate.
Hard Spun is coming off a successful year which was highlighted by G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner, Aloha West, who recently captured the Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. The stallion is also represented by additional 2022 Stakes winners Exotic West, Sparkle Blue, Green Light Go, Necker Island, Spun Glass and My Philly Twirl.
