Back at Sha Tin today without the hullabaloo of International week. However there was a faint hint of Derby Fever in the air today, the Griffen trophy was the feature race and the final race had several first starters who would all like to progress to the big race in March.

Winning one of the big four on International day is a great feat, but there is really only one race a Hong Kong owner wants to win – the Hong Kong Derby. Derby Fever infects owners like no other known disease, and is likely only curable by death. They spend vast amounts of money procuring all manner of horses from different parts of the globe. It doesn’t seem to matter that many would not run 2000m down Conduit Road, just get me a horse that runs in the Derby.

Griffen Trophy 1400m – Pakistan Star

For a lightly raced horse, who has plenty to learn, Pakistan Star carries the burden of massive public expectation every time he runs. Two impressive wins to start his career saw his rating blow out to silly numbers. His next three runs failed to yield a win, but he was never disgraced in any of those. His flop out of the gates and run home quick style, make him an easy mark for critics and a likely candidate to get beaten more often than he wins.

Back in class today, against his own age group and with Moreira on board he was expected to win. That he did in convincing style, he was never truly extended at all. Trainer Tony Cruz said “He never really lost his best form but he’s still learning. He’s still run well the last couple of times, but this looked a good race for him. Obviously, with the best jockey in Hong Kong aboard in Joao Moreira, we expected him to win today and he won very well. I’m very happy with that, Joao looked to have his hands full of horse at the top of the straight and he took the chance, sent him out early and won the race. We couldn’t ask for more.”

Of his immediate future “The next step now will be the Classic Mile,” Cruz said. “After that, it is probably the best race for him. I just hope Joao can ride him there. This is our goal.”

Jockey Moreira “He’s still a very young horse, he’s still picking up. I can say that now he is definitely not mature enough to be facing the top horses at this stage, but he indicates to me that he will be one of those top horses in time. It’s just a matter of time.” Whether he stays on for the Classic Mile remains to be seen.

Chek Keng Handicap 1400m – My Darling

First starters Beauty Generation, Raghu and Who Dat Singa all bought good three year old form from Australia and New Zealand to Hong Kong. All purcahsed with the hope of quenching Derby Fever. Another Australian bred, My Darling, was sent out favourite bringing some strong form into the race and Moreira riding.

Sitting just behind the speed, My Darling was too strong in the run home. As a four year old no doubt the owners will have Derby ambitions for him. Trainer john Size – “This preparation, in Class 2 he struggled a little bit, and probably today too, he struggled to win. But he has won and a Class 2 win is always pretty good as a four-year-old, that’s hard to get. So I’ll take that, I’m not complaining about it.

On his future Size was coy “Maybe I’ll try him at the 1600m, I’m not sure. He’s by Mossman, and even though the sire can run that far I’m not sure that he will. His pedigree says he can, though, so he’d have to have an attempt at some stage.”

Beauty Generation came from well off the speed to finish second in what was a good run. Off to the Classic Mile next, trainer John Moore said “Given he was in need of that and they’ve run pretty solid sectionals, for him to only go down by three-quarters of a length, he’s right on track. He’ll come on leaps and bounds for that and we’ll go to the Classic Mile with a trial in between.”

Connections of Who Dat Singa would also be encouraged by his performance, finishing fifth after being near the pace. Raghu failed to flatter at all and finished last.

Luk Wu Handicap 1000m – DB Pin

This was an impressive win from the son of Darci Brahma. Coming into the race off two wins over course and distance, he started a short priced favourite. He was robbed of a win early in the season because of #rakegate, where an unwitting attendant had left a rake against the starting stalls causing a malfunction that saw barriers at irregular intervals.

DB Pin drew the wrong side of the track today, was forced to race most of the trip without cover into a strong headwind. The manner in which he was able to put the field away suggests there are more wins in store for him in the future.

Thanks to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for trainer and jockey quotes.