Date posted January 31, 2010 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Racing and Breeding,
Staff FavouritesTonight in Hong Kong, fourteen of that countries top 20 highest rated horses will be in action at Sha Tin in two domestic Group One events.
In the Sprint Cup, Australian bred and the world’s co-equal top-rated sprinter Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago) will be attempt to win a race that has eluded him for the past two years, while in the Stewards’ Cup Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), who in December became the first horse to win the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile three years in succession, will be attempting his second “hat trick” in less than two months.
Sacred Kingdom has a bagful of trophies in his stable but has failed in two attempts at the Centenary Sprint Cup, having finished second behind Absolute Champion in 2008 and fourth behind Inspiration last year when returning from a leg injury. However, his trainer Ricky Yiu believes he will set the record straight this time telling the HKJC’s website.
“We are well prepared this time and I have full confidence in the horse,” he said. “He is meeting most of the horses he beat in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint and I will leave the tactics to Brett (Prebble) who knows the horse well.”
The outstanding Good Ba Ba
Trainer John Moore, who has been dubbed the master of Group races, believes he has the horse that can deny Sacred Kingdom yet again in the shape of One World.
“He finished second to Sacred Kingdom in the Hong Kong Sprint and he could very well turn the tables this time,” he said. Moore also saddles up Dim Sum and the lowly-rated Craig’s Dragon who earlier this month won the HK-Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy over the same course and distance.
Trainer Derek Cruz says racing fans should ignore the run of Joy And Fun in the New Year’s Day Chinese Club Challenge Cup and go on his third placing behind Sacred Kingdom and One World in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint last month. “He was finishing as well as the winner in that and I expect him to turn in another top performance,” he said.
Green Birdie, trainer Caspar Fownes’ entry, ran fourth to Sacred Kingdom in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint and has some claims while trainer John Size saddles Brilliant Chapter, the mount of champion jockey Douglas Whyte.
While Derek Cruz is expecting a better run from Joy And Fun, his bigger hope on Sunday is Good Ba Ba who is aiming to win his third Stewards’ Cup.
“He is a real champion and it is hard to find another horse with such achievements. Jockey Olivier Doleuze is very happy with the horse and everything looks just perfect,” he said.
Cruz is also not concerned about the outside draw of Gate 12. “The gate is not really a big deal as he drew a wide gate in the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial but still finished full of running from way back in the field,” he said.
However, he concedes his brother Tony Cruz’s Egyptian Ra, currently the highest rated horse in Hong Kong, and the fourth highest rated Collection, trained by John Moore, are real dangers.
Egyptian Ra will be partnered for the first time by Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon who last week steered Tony Cruz’s Beauty Flash to an emphatic victory in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile.
“He is in fine form at the present and it all depends on the going. If it remains good to firm, he will certainly give them something to chase from his low draw,” Cruz said.
Moore is confident his last year’s Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby winner Collection can not only collect the Stewards’ Cup but also has a real chance of emulating the 1994 feat of River Verdon who is the only horse to have won the Triple Crown.
“He is in top form and if there is something to stop Good Ba Ba from a third successive victory, it will be Collection,” he said. Moore also saddles up former Champions Mile winner Able One, who he said is returning to his best form, and the six-year-old Eyshal.
Another runner with the ability to handle all three Triple Crown legs is trainer Danny Shum’s Thumbs Up who last year won the Classic Mile before finishing second in the Derby over 2000m and second in the Champions and Chater Cup over 2400m.
Trainer Paul O’Sullivan will be watching the race in New Zealand where he will be attending the Premier Yearling Sales. However, he believes his Fellowship will grab some prize money.
“He is very special in my mind and he is a real group horse. However, he has been unlucky to keep running into Good Ba Ba though I am sure he will turn in another gutsy performance,” O’Sullivan said.
Five-time champion trainer John Size has won the Stewards’ Cup four times with Electronic Unicorn (2002 and 2003), Super Kid (2004) and Armada (2007). He will be represented this year by Sight Winner, Armada and Special Days with champion jockey Douglas Whyte giving punters a clue by opting to ride the last named.
The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) on 28 February and the third leg is the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on 30 May with a $5 million bonus for the horse winning all three legs.
The Hong Kong Speed Series, which continues with the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on 21 February and concludes with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 14 March, carries a bonus of $2 million
