$550K flop to comeback star: Call Me Gorgeous chasing stakes glory after Hong Kong bust

Call Me Gorgeous has a record of three wins from four starts for David Pfieffer, but a couple of years ago, the Warwick Farm trainer thought he would only see him on television.

The $550,000 yearling was bought with Hong Kong in mind by the Fraternity Australia syndicate, and Pfieffer had done his job when he won a Super maiden on ANZAC day in 2024

It qualified him for the racing mecca, and Pfieffer felt they were getting “a very nice horse”.

“We had a job to do and did it, and I have to say I was disappointed to lose him,” he remembered.

“They had a permit and wanted a good horse to go there, and he looked like one.

“You want them to go over there and go well, but it didn’t work out for Call Me Gorgeous.”

He had eight Hong Kong starts without running a placing and he was sent home to be retired. However, Pfieffer was given another chance with him.

It has so far resulted in a couple of wins at Newcastle and Warwick Farm, and Pfieffer is looking towards a stakes future with the sprinter.

“He was a little immature when he left us and he has grown up now,” Pfieffer said.

“It is a credit to the owners that they have spent the money to bring him back here, that’s not cheap, to give him another shot at being a racehorse.

“I’m just so happy that we have been able to reward them wioth a couple of wins and there is more to come,

“He is now the horse that I thought we were sending them over there, but sometimes in Hong Kong they just don’t settle in.”

Call Me Gorgeous waltzed to a three-length win at Newcastle, before crabbing around the turn, before balancing up for a 1-1/2 length win at Warwick Farm.

He has been made $3.50 favourite for a benchmark 78 on ANZAC day, a couple of years on from his last Randwick win, which is a good price considering his Australian record.

Pfieffer believes he can race through the grades, but on one proviso.

“He needs big tracks because of his action. He struggled to get around the home turn at Warwick Farm, so we are being careful where we are placing him,” Pfieffer said. “That’s why we are at Randwick.

 “I was thinking about running in the Takeover Target Stakes, but Gosford wouldn’t suit him.

“This race is a good next step, and he is getting better with every run and I think there is a nice race in him.

“He is in at the right time of year and if he can measure up, there are races in Queensland for him.”