Defending champion Time Warp came into he race on the back of a plain effort in the Jockey Club Cup, where he tailed off to finish last. Renown as a horse who needs to get his own way in front, Time Warp was taken on in that race by his full brother Glorious Forever, who spent last season coming coming through the grades with the same race style as his older sibling. They went at each other hammer and tong three weeks ago, and it didn’t pan out well for either of them as they set the race up for the closers.
So tactics were going to play a big part here, would either relent and let the other take a lead? The talk was that the Frankie Lor trained Glorious Forever might let big brother go this time, however with him drawing barrier one and Time Warp out wide the scenario set up well for Glorious Forever. The first 150 metres to the first turn were going to be very interesting and so it proved.
Silvestre de Sousa pushed on from gate one, with Zac Purton on Time Warp looming to his outside. Purton decided to ease as they approached the turn, and from there it was more or less a procession. They clocked a pedestrian 50.56 for the first 800m, and high class animals like these take some passing when they have it that easy on the front.
Try as he might Time Warp could not pass his younger brother in the straight, at one stage he got to within a half length, but Glorious Forever was able to kick clear again late. The main challenge came from he Japanese mare Deirdre, who was really the only one to make ground in the run home.
On tactics, trainer Lor said “I talked to Silvestre yesterday and said ‘if he jumped good try to take the lead and if Time Warp pushed too hard then he could take the sit behind him’. We drew one and Time Warp seven so that made a difference”.
“Everything was in my favour,” de Sousa said, “the draw was perfect for riding a horse who could be one or two in the run. Everything went to the plan.
“I didn’t want to overdo it in front but to make sure Time Warp didn’t come around, I had to make sure we were going a true gallop. I won the battle for the first 300 metres and I was going so well at the 800 (metres), I thought to myself they would have to be very good to pick him up; it would have to be one of the Europeans because I didn’t think Time Warp would come again.”
Christophe Lemaire said of second place Deirdre “She ran very good. It was a good pace and she was very relaxed all the way around. She picked up very well and has a long acceleration, giving all at the finish. Well done to the winner as he made the running and never gave up. The best horse won today.”
It was a remarkable day for Lor, winning two of the big four races in his second season “This is special. Yes today is amazing for me, I can’t believe it. For me, it’s my dream to get more good horses and win the big races and to win these two races today is amazing,” Lor said.
Thanks to the HKJC team for quotes from connections.
Beauty Generation started a long odds on favourite here after several stunning performances this season, giving his rivals weight on all occasions. A few had a lingering doubts about his fitness after he had laid out considerably in the straight in the Jockey Club Mile last time, although trainer John Moore was not concerned.
Having drawn wide in 12, jockey Zac Purton was likely to be faced with a decision if those inside pushed on – take a sit as per the Jockey Club Cup or push on. Early on Comin’ Through and Fifty Fifty were keen to take the favourite on, but Purton had no concerns sitting three wide early, confident he had the superior animal. He was able to cross them with about 800m to go, and from there the result was never in doubt.
It was an emphatic win, Purton said of Beauty Generation “His best attribute is he has got a very high cruising speed, he’s very comfortable rolling along at that speed and he can kick off it. For the horses back in the field they’re already struggling to go the pace and when you’ve got to try and reel him in, it’s not an easy thing to do.”
Trainer John Moore said “That’s the most impressive by far,”. What he did today, he was taken on inside, he had to do it the hard way as far as I was concerned. Once he got to the front he has high RPMs (revs per minute), he got him up and away he went. As far as I could see he wasn’t even hit.”
What happens next for Beauty generation is undecided. It would be great to see him travel and prove that he is not just a Sha Tin horse, which Moore is keen to do. However the owners may not be so keen “The owner and his father are of the opinion that they don’t come back the same horse when they travel but I’m trying to convince them that that’s not the case with the way that I travel my horses. There’s a few little tricks there to make sure”.
“If we’re going to prove him we’re going to have to do it on the world stage: We’ve done it here; home ground; that’s the advantage; he’s done it easily.
“I’d love to travel him, to take him to Dubai where everyone says right, here’s the top three in the world. I’ve won the Shaheen and had a few placings over there.
“I know the venue very well and I believe he could travel. If everything goes to plan he could win there.”
Second in the race was the might mare Vivlos, who was making last race day appearance. Rider William Buick “Mr (Yasuo) Tomomichi had her in great shape. She ran a really good race and was comfortable through the run, but was beaten by one of the best of the best milers in the world.”
Thanks to the HKJC for the quotes from connections.
On face value you look at the result of the 2018 Sprint, the result being the same as the 2017 version, you’d think not a lot has changed. While the horses may not have, plenty else has. Winner Mr Stunning was surprisingly moved from the John Size stable, to rookie trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen. Karis Teetan also committed to Mr Stunning at the time and while he had other options arise, chose to stick with the son of Exceed and Excel.
D B Pin kicked on form the 2017 Sprint and won the Centenary Sprint Cup in January this year, looking at that stage as if he might seal himself as Hong Kong’s pre-eminent sprinter. However a tendon injury led to an enforced spell and he was entering this race second up off the break. A new hoop was also engaged this season, with Sam Clipperton taking the ride.
Race favourite Hot king Prawn was expected to lead from his wide gate, and that he did. It gave Teetan the perfect cart across to take a trailing position and from there it always looked likely that Mr stunning would win. D B Pin did give some cheek in the run home, but perhaps his condition gave on him in the final stages.
Teetan, riding his first HKIR winner in said “He had a lovely trip through the race and I’m just so happy. It’s incredible. I’ve never felt like this. It’s the first time I’ve heard the crowd shouting like this. I just knew when I pressed the button he was going to go. He felt different today, felt so good,”.
“When Ivictory went forward to put some pressure on Hot King Prawn, I was pretty happy about that. My horse never travels too hard in a race but he was really so relaxed underneath me today,”
Trainer Lor, was also tasting G1 success for the first time and was understandably excited “I’m very happy,” Lor said, “Karis did a great job out there. It took me a long time to get a trainer’s licence so I need to try my best to keep going and train more Group 1 winners. I think John (Size) might also be happy because I worked for him and he was a great boss.”
On the runner-up, Sam Clipperton “I just needed that luck and unfortunately, the luck enabled Karis to get a neck start on me and my horse is just held to the line. Well done to Karis, he deserves that win, he works bloody hard. I am very proud of my horse and he has run a cracker only second up,”.
I had the local contingent pencilled in for two wins on the HKIR card, and given a particular set of circumstances possibly a third. However, the Vase was not the race I had as a possible win third scalp for team Hong Kong. They probably had their most competitive looking runners in a while, but the Europeans bought Arc and Breeders Cup form and the Japanese just produce superior stayers.
Exultant was marginally the punters elect amongst the local team, just ahead of Pakistan Star. Jockey Zac Purton elected to take Exultant forward, to make best use of his ability to stay. “He’s just an out and out stayer and we decided to put him up on the pace today against a quality field and just let him grind it out,” Purton said.
“He’s the type of horse that if he’s going to get into a fight in the last 200 metres over a distance like this, you’d like to be on his back.”
Japanese mare Crocosmia lead as expected, but the pace was not severe giving Exultant every chance on the speed. Eziyra and Ruthven were also handy in the run. Lys Gracieux and Joao Moreira were back towards the tail.
As they turned for home things soon got a bit ugly for those back in the pack. William Buick speared Pakistan Star out when not clear of Waldgeist and Red Verdon, causing a scrimmage that earned him a lengthy spell on the sidelines (12 Hong Kong race days).
Exultant kicked clear, but Moreira and Lys Gracieux looks the obvious danger. In fact it is doubtful that anyone in the crowd thought that Exultant would hold on as Lys Gracieux loomed. Purton said “Joao had the momentum. But my bloke just seemed to be loafing along a little bit and as Joao came to me he actually rolled in and bumped my horse – that seemed to fire him back up and he found his second wind then.”
Of the second place getter Moreira said “No doubt her performance was outstanding against a horse that was running on his home yard and obviously knows the track inch-by inch”.
“There were a few little issues people might not have seen as I got held up and horses bumped me at 600 metres. Those little things, I think, can affect the horse’s performance and those probably cost her the race, but overall I’ve got to express that I am extremely pleased with her performance.”
For trainer Tony Cruz, it was his first success in the Vase. “I’m over the moon, we all are,” he said. “This season he’s stronger, he’s more experienced, he knows his game better and he had a perfect run – Zac rode a perfect race.”
“This horse has no speed so you have to have him up there and being drawn wide (10) was actually good for him because nothing was going to block him. I told Zac he had to be up there – the Japanese horse (Crocosmia) led, we sat second, it was perfect.”
Third home was Eziyra for Dermott Weld. “She had a dream run through behind the winner and she has a lot of stamina,” jockey Christophe Lemaire said. “She just lacked an instant reaction but she fought all the way to the line and at this level that is certainly her best performance. I know the Japanese filly (Lys Gracieux) and she is a very good horse.”
What happens next for Exultant is undecided at this stage. Cruz will throw in entries for overseas races, but will discuss options with his owner.
Thanks to the HKJC team for quotes from connections.
On race day eve, I’ll take a stab at finding the winner. A couple of these races are quite challenging, so finding the winner is no easy task. If you’re having a bet tomorrow – all the best of racing luck.
Vase
This is a good edition of the Vase, it brings in many form lines, and is a tough race to pick the winner. European-trained runners have won twenty of the twenty four editions of the Hong Kong Vase, with Japan supplying two. Locally trained winners are scarce, with Dominant in 2013 being the last to salute. This year Hong Kong’s best chances are Pakistan Star, who is possibly in the wrong race and Eagle Way. Both ran in the Jockey Club Cup.
Pakistan Star was a stunning winner of the QEII Cup in April and it is a surprise to see him running in this. His effort on speed in the Jockey Club Cup was poor and I’d expect he’ll be ridden more quietly here.
Eagle Way received all the favours in the Jockey Club Cup. He’s a Queensland Derby winner, who hasn’t had a lot of luck since being in Hong Kong, but looks to have found his form at the right time. Whether that is good enough is questionable.
The Europeans look strong as usual. Waldgeist ran well in the Arc, and went on to the Breeders Cup from there. He’s been busy and perhaps that showed in the Breeders Cup, where he was a touch soft. Salouen has had a good season, although struggles to win. Mirage Dancer is lightly raced and has been very good this season, the son of Frankel has looked good in his work this week and can race handy or even lead if necessary.
Red Verdon and Prince Of Arron have both been to Australia for the spring, with contrasting fortunes. Red Verdon was only fair in the Caulfield Cup, in a race that was not run to suit. He had hoof problems subsequent to that and missed the Melbourne Cup. Prince Of Arron had three vey good runs in Australia, winning the Lexus Stakes and placing in the Melbourne Cup.
The Irish Derby quinella horses, Latrobe and Rostropovich, have also been to Melbourne. Both have had plenty of travel, but look well. Neither has done a lot this week, although Latrobe has completed many laps of the dirt track.
The Japanese are represented by Lys Gracieux and Crocosmia, the latter galloped on Tuesday morning and has remained in the quarantine barn for the rest of the week which, has to be a concern. They were the quinella horses in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup – f&m four weeks ago (which Snow Fairy cam out of in 2010 to win the Cup). Prior to that they ran in the G2 Fuchu Himba S. – f&m, where they finished behind Deirdre (Lys Garcieux 2nd and Crocosmia 5th).
Crocosmia is a natural leader and should ensure there is speed. Mirage Dancer is likely to take the sit behind, with Rostropovich also handy, with Salouen, Prince Of Arran and Latrobe also in the front half. Pakistan Star should be nice and relaxed mid pack. The pace should give everyone a chance to show their best.
For what it’s worth, my numbers are: 5/10/2/1
Sprint
This race looks a battle amongst the locals, with the visitors facing a very tall task if they’re to prevail. Fine Needle brings the best form of the visitors, coming off back-to-back victories at home, the last in the Sprinters Stakes at G1 level. Sir Dancealot has a pair of G2 wins this season, but both of those were at 1400m. Lim’s Cruiser is the best sprinter in Singapore, but that is a level below what he will encounter here.
The key race is likely to be the Jockey Club Sprint run three weeks ago.
Hot King Prawn was drawn eight of nine, and was able to get across and lead without trouble. He’s drawn wider in this, however the scenario is likely to pan out much the same. The adaptable Mr Stunning is likely to be prominent again as he also has a wide draw to contend with. Ivictory will also be prominent along with D B Pin and Little Giant should find a nice spot. Fine Needle will tail the field most likely.
The result could well be determined by how much pressure is applied to Hot King Prawn – if he gets it easy again, there will most likely be a repeat of three weeks ago.
D B Pin returned to racing after an injury lay off in the Jockey Club Sprint and clearly needed the run. If he bought his best form here he is a live chance, in fact if I was confident that he would he’d likely be my tip. However I have a feeling he’ll be needing the run here, and I’ll be looking for him to be prominent later in the season.
Mr Stunning was charging home in the Jockey Club Sprint, but ran out of ground. He meets Hot King Prawn at level weights here, after giving him five pounds last time. Both horses are likely to improve again off that run, although Mr Stunning has had one less run this season. It’s a toss of the coin between them, but I’m leaning the way of Mr Stunning this time. In fact I can see third place getter from the Jockey Club Sprint, Beat The Clock doing the same here, with Fine Needle finishing on quickly.
Numbers: 2/5/4/6
Mile
After winning the Mile last year when he was priced at $8.4, Beauty Generation has risen several levels and will be odds on to repeat here. He got an easy time of it in the lead last year, but has proven since that he can win when pressured and even be eased back if the pace is too strong, as evidenced in the Jockey Club Mile.
The task here is to find those that will fill the placings. Mozu Ascot comes here as a Yasuda Kinen winner three starts ago. His last run in the Mile Championship at Kyoto was without luck and perhaps not Lemaire’s finest ride. However I get the feeling he was entitled to do better. He has looked well in his work this week, but has not really been asked to do a lot.
Persian Knight also comes out of the Mile Championship, where he ran a very good second to Stelvio. If this was decided on looks Persian Knight would be winning, he is a stunning looking horse. However that will not see him beating Beauty Generation. Seeing Mozu Ascot improve would be no surprise. If these horses have not bottomed out after that race, they can figure in the finish.
I’m going to put a line through the European challenge. Beat The Bank is far from the top Miler in Britain, and they are a plain lot currently. Inns Of Court is perhaps at his best at 1400m, a trip at which he finished second to One Master two starts back. One Master subsequently went to the Breeders cup, where she ran fifth.
Vivlos is likely to be making her final racetrack appearance here. She won the Dubai Turf in 2017 and was second this year. She’s perhaps at her best beyond a Mile and has raced twice since Dubai and has not filled the frame, but has been respectable. I’d love to see her win, but that is unlikely.
The next best of the local Milers is Southern Legend, who put in a good effort in the lead up race. Old marvel Beauty Only needs two things – a good pace and a firm track to figure.
Numbers: 1/2/9/4
Cup
There has been money thrown at the Cup in an effort to bolster it, but it has failed to draw a full field here which is disappointing. There are no stand out 2000m horses on show. From a local perspective the Jockey Club Cup is the key lead up race, however the winner from that Eagle Way goes the the Vase.
Brothers Time Warp and Glorious Forever were on a mission to destroy each other in that, and succeeded admirably, setting it up for a closer. Time Warp needs a scenario like last year where he is not bothered on the lead, to have any chance of repeating that win. Glorious Forever’s connections have indicated that they will take a sit this time round.
Gold Mount has not won since the Happy Valley Vase in March, but has been very consistent and is a place chance again here.
The visitors are likely to figure. Deirdre comes off two wins in filly and mare grade in Japan and has been set for this. She travelled to Dubai earlier this year and performed creditably, finishing in a dead heat for third.
Staphanos stands in the frequent visitor queue at the airport, this being his fifth trip to Hong Kong where he has a third placing (to Maurice in 2016) and forth (last year to Time Warp) in the Cup. He looks as well as ever, but a win here would surprise.
Sungrazer is perhaps the best credentialed of the Japanese visitors. He was a G2 winner of the Sapporo Kinen two starts back and second to Rey de Oro in the Tenno Sho Autumn last time out. That form reads well for this. The question mark is, will he run to his peak off a tough effort last time?
As is usual for a Thursday here before a big meeting, it was pretty busy out at the track this morning. Too many horses to capture in one post, so I will be catching up with a few of todays in tomorrow post.
Persian Knight
This guy continues to impress, not only with his stunning good looks, but his gallop today was also very nice. He comes up against a formidable hometown opponent in Beauty Generation, but a good run in the Mile Championship at home last time, were he finished second to Stelvio, indicates that he is in form.
Today he galloped 1200m over the turf course and clocked 1m 25.6s (34.0, 29.3, 22.3).Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said: “He moved nicely to remain active while he was galloping. I think he goes into the race a fit horse. He has a great mode and is very settled.”
Mr Stunning
Last years HKIR Sprint winner comes into this years race having had a change of stable – moving from John Size to Frankie Lor. You wouldn’t consider a move away from the Size stable a positive, however Lor had a tremendous first season out on his own. Mr Stunning comes into this off two good runs this season, placing both time at G2 and G3 level, both times behind Hot King Prawn.
He looked really well in his gallop on the dirt track this morning and I think we can expect a bold showing. Karis Teetan rides from a widish gate – barrier 9.
Time Warp
Last years Cup winner is looking to become only the second horse to go back-to-back in the race (previously done by California Memory in 2011/2012). He’s had some mixed form since, and seems to really only be at his best when he gets a lead on his own. Whether this scenario plays out is doubtful as his full brother, Glorious Forever, is of the same ilk. They cut each other up with a crazy pace three weeks ago in the Jockey Club Cup, where neither were able to run a place
He certainly looks well and gets his chance here if things go his way, as this is not the strongest Cup. Trainer Tony Cruz commented yesterday “I’m happy with all of my horses, they’re all fit and we’ll just see what happens at the draw on Thursday.” The draw didn’t go exactly to plan as Time Warp has drawn 7 of 9.
Glorious Forever
It’s not often you get to see full brothers run against one another in a G1 race, let alone where there is a small pool of horses like there is in Hong Kong. However both have made it here, Time Warp with two G1 victories on the board and Glorious Forever the younger sibling yet to taste victory at the highest level. This race seems to have come rather quickly for Glorious Forever, but I was saying the same about Time Warp last year.
A win in this would genuinely surprise, but given his rising rating here, there are not many other options available to him.
Little Giant
He has had feet issues since arriving in Hong Kong, but the highly-talented galloper was unbeaten in two NZ starts before export. He’s had three wins from five well-spaced runs in here, over the past three seasons. Little Giant returned with a brilliant course and distance Class 2 win on 1 October before arguably being beaten by a wide draw when a neck 3rd to Rattan in a strong Class 1 Panasonic Cup (1400m) at his latest outing. This is a tough test, but he does look an untapped talent. Likely settled midfield or back and has won on good and yielding ground.
He worked on the all-weather track this morning, covering 1200m in 1m 26.4s (33.5, 28.1, 24.8). Jockey Zac Purton said: “It was just an easy piece for him this morning. He’s coming back to 1200 (metres) from 1400. He’s probably the fittest he’s ever been in his time in Hong Kong so hopefully that’s a good thing.”
Mirage Dancer
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute took the Vase in 2000 with Daliapour and has this year engaged the progressive four-year-old Mirage Dancer. He’s a lightly-raced, consistent stayer who was 0.5L 2nd to subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Best Solution in a G2 at 2400m, before 3.5L win over Red Verdon in G3 Glorious Stakes (2398m) at Goodwood on 3 August. He was then a short-head 2nd to Young Rascal in a Newbury G3 over 2200m at his latest start.
He took to the turf today with Sunday’s jockey Ryan Moore on board and looked in good shape as he had a nice breeze down the home straight, covering 800m in 54.8s (30.4, 24.4). Sir Michael Stoute’s assistant Sarah Deniff said: “This morning Ryan Moore was very happy with him and I am too, everything is good and we’ll hope for a nice draw later.” Unfortunately the wish for a good gate was not fulfilled as he drew marble 13 of 14.
Rostropovich
This well travelled young horse comes here off a solid Melbourne Cup effort where he was fifth, with Vase jockey Wayne Lordan on board. He’s had an understandably quiet time of it here since arriving.
He made his first appearance on the turf track this week, and worked with his big race jockey Wayne Lordan in the irons. Lordan said: “I’m happy with that. He seems very well and in good heart. He’s been running well, and he’s maturing with experience.”
Thanks to the HKJC content team for quotes from connections
This mare is G2 winner and runner-up in the past two editions of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, latterly to Lys Gracieux earlier this month. She generally races on the speed and as with nearly all Japanese runners, prefers a firm track.
She was the only international runner to make use of the turf track, and was impressive in galloping 800m in 49s (25.7, 23.3) under jockey Ryusei Sakai. Assistant trainer Shoichi Nishiura said: “I wanted her to relax today to get her to move nicely and we asked her to go a bit stronger towards the finish line. So far, we have been trying to get her form back since she arrived in Hong Kong. She worked perfectly today and has settled in the new surroundings well.”
Red Verdon
Red Verdon comes to Hong Kong after a luckless spell in Australia. He finished 11th in a slowly run Caulfield Cup, then suffered from hoof problems which saw him miss a run in the Melbourne Cup. He seems to be well over those issues now and looks to have settled into life at Sha Tin.
This morning he breezed around the dirt track and quickened up as he passed the on-looking trainer Ed Dunlop. Dunlop said: “I saw him for the first time in Hong Kong last night and he looks great. We don’t need to do much with him for the rest of the week and he’ll probably stick to the all-weather track.
“Nothing went right for him in the Caulfield Cup (where he finished 11th) and he’s 100% recovered from the bruised heel he suffered subsequently. It’s a tough assignment for him on Sunday but he comes here a fresh horse and if he’s on his A-game on Sunday he might be able to pick up some pieces.”
Red Verdon’s experienced work rider, Steve Nicholson, had to take evasive action in the straight when he found Beat The Bank in his path on the rail, but was unfazed by the incident, “Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all before,” he quipped as he guided his charge off the track.
Staphanos
This guy is nearly a local here, making his fifth visit to Hong Kong. He placed third and fourth in past two editions of the Cup and and is G1-placed five times. He’d be a deserved and popular G1 winner.
He cantered a lap and a half around the dirt track. Assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara said: “He is improving daily and moved over the track really well. We’ll breeze him on Thursday.”
Sungrazer
This guy is a seven-time winner from 16 starts, with three G2 scores; he was a very good second at his latest run behind Rey De Oro in G1 Tenno Sho Autumn. He usually settles midfield or back. At his best on good to firm but has won on ground with some ease.
Lys Gracieux
She gained a well-deserved first G1 win with a defeat of Crocosmia in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup last time. That is the race that Snow Fairy came through when winning the Cup. She is a strong finisher who excels on firm ground and has no exposure to genuinely soft.
Walgeist
Waldgeist earned his stripes as one of the world’s top middle-distance gallopers with four wins this year including the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and will attempt to give trainer Fabre a third Vase win. The four-year-old was a running-on fourth to Enable in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October. He is sually ridden midfield and is capable on good and soft ground but excels on the latter.
He cantered two laps of the all-weather track. Andre Fabre’s travelling head lad Richard Lambert said: “He’s fine, he’s just doing routine canters on the all-weather. There’s no need to work him on the turf as he ran in the Breeders’ Cup and he did what he needed to do before coming out.”
Another HKIR week has finally arrived. I’m so looking forward photographing some quality horseflesh over the next few days. There are a large number of visitors here and hopefully I’ll get to publish images of them all this week, along with as many of the locals as possible. It was a quiet start this morning, with no turf gallops and most horses barely getting above a canter.
Persian Knight
Persian Knight won G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto in 2017 and was beaten a head in the same contest earlier this month. The Mile seems his best trip, although he does boast a 2nd in the Osaka High to Suave Richard earlier in the season. He gets back in the field, so that will be a challenge for him, as running down Beauty Generation is no easy task.
As with most horses, he had a quiet morning on the dirt track. Work rider Hiroyuki Uemura said: “He has not lost weight travelling to Hong Kong, which is good. All has gone well so far and he is becoming familiar with the new surroundings.”
Latrobe
Australian owned, but trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien, Latrobe represents the same trainer/ownership combination that won the 2017 Melbourne Cup with Rekindling.
Latrobe won the Irish Derby this year, beating fellow Vase contender Rostropovich. Like Rostropovich he travelled to Melbourne for the Cup, but connections decided against a run there. He did contest the McKinnon Stakes (2000m), where he was a close 2nd to Trap For Fools. On his way back to Ireland he makes a stop here for the Vase.
He cantered two laps of the all-weather track under regular work rider Martin Doran. Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said of Latrobe: “He took the journey from Melbourne like a pro and has lost very little weight. It just took him a couple of days to settle in, but he seems in great shape now.”
Comin’ Through
Some ridiculous quarantine restrictions imposed in Australia mean that horses trained there find it very difficult to come to Hong Kong. They have to spend 180 days in another country, before being allowed back into Australia. However the connections of Coming’ Through have not been deterred, making the trip to Hong Kong to contest the Mile. He is off to Dubai after Hong Kong, so can serve his 180 days there.
A G1 winner at 2000m, he also has a 2nd placing in a G1 Doncaster Handicap at a Mile. His spring preparation in Australia has not seen him in great form.
Trainer Chris Waller said: “The horse is good. He travelled well and he’s settled in well and very much taken it all in his stride. He’s stabled on his own which is always a challenge with horses but he has a mirror in there so at least he can look at himself.
“Look, he’s a good horse who’s just lost a little bit of form. Earlier in the year, he did run second in the Doncaster Mile at the distance and won the Doomben Cup.
“We’ve kept him really fresh and you won’t see him gallop here. I want him bouncing out of his skin for this race. He’s a good fresh horse, in fact his fresh record is fantastic including winning at his first run this season; so, were hopeful but obviously it’s a strong race and we’re taking on Beauty Generation. I’ve followed him closely and he (Beauty Generation) is in great form and going to be very hard to beat.”
Mozu Ascot
The son of Frankel has progressed into top miler this spring, peaking in G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo in June and he had no luck in his latest run in G1 Mile Championship. He’s not raced on anything other than firm ground and generally is ridden off the speed.
He cantered one lap around the all-weather track. Assistant Trainer Toshimine Tamai: “He travelled like a professional, no problems. He is settling in and eating well.”
Vivlos
I’m so glad connections have bought this mare here, I’ve am a big fan of hers. An underrated winner of the Dubai Turf in 2017 she went back to defend the title this year and was beaten by Banbatl, who has since campaigned well in Australia. This is likely to be her swan song and hopefully she puts in a good showing.
Assistant trainer Shinji Yasuda: “This is her third time travelling abroad, so she is pretty used to it. She is doing well and has been in a good mood since arriving here.”
Deirdre
Deidre is seven-time winner, who landed G1 Shuka Sho in 2017. She then went on to be third in G1 Dubai Turf in March and is unbeaten in two races since, latterly a 1800m G2 in October. She joins compatriots Staphanos and Sungrazer in the Cup. On her latest win, she is a very real chance in this.
After cantering an easy lap of the dirt work rider Yuta Komiyama said: “She has travelled overseas before, when she went to Dubai this March, so she flew in here without any problems. She was startled a bit with the new surroundings here when she worked on the track, but she is in great condition.”
Lim’s Cruiser
This classy sprinter from Singapore was successful in G1 Lion City Cup at Kranji in May. He had a break after that and returned recently with an emphatic victory in a conditions race at on the 20th November.
Trainer Stephen Gray said: “He’s settled in well. He was a bit hot yesterday but is much more settled this morning. The trip was only eight hours from box to stables here so we’ve been able to easily keep his routine.
“We’re honoured and proud to be here. It’s good for the stable and staff and my family and good for Singapore. It’s always been my ambition to have one good enough to bring here. I’ve been 18 years in Singapore trying to get one and he’s probably the best sprinter in Singapore since Rocket Man. We’ve set him for the race after only having the three runs this year. He should have won first-up back in April and he has won his two since.
“Some cut in the ground would help him. He’s a sit quiet and run home horse who also loves a good speed. He’s been well tried over further as you do in Singapore and most of Asia with the three and four-year-old series of races but he’s done very well confined to sprinting. Maybe that strength will enable him to sit back and finish off here. To be realistic it’s a strong race but we’re not here just to eat the noodles.”
Thanks to the team from the HKJC for quotes from connections!
The home team are always formidable in the Sprint and this edition looked to be no exception. Chairmans Sprint Prize winner Luck Bubbles was coming in off a luckless run in the Jockey Club Sprint. Winner of that race, Mr Stunning, looked to be the best of the locals and went out a short priced elect. His trainer John Size had four starters, with the enigmatic Thewizardofoz, his number two seed.
After jumping from gate four, Mr Stunning was given a positive ride by Nash Rawiller, sitting in behind the speed set by Once In A Moon and Peniaphobia. Rawiller let him cruise to the front half way up the straight, however a serious challenger emerged from the chasing pack. Fellow John Size trained runner D B Pin and Olivier Doleuze (20/1) laid down the gauntlet to Mr Stunning. However as hard as they pressed, they were unable to find a way past Rawiller and his mount.
“He’s very professional and he’s proven himself on top of the Hong Kong sprinters, that’s for sure,” Rawiller said.
“I had no intention of going near the rail at any stage,” Rawiller said. “It can change pretty quickly in a race like that, you only need them to steady a little bit and next minute, you’re in the worst spot in the race. Although it looks pretty going down the hill, it can end up being the biggest trap of all time.
“So I sat one-off, I was in a beautiful position with a bit of cover. The horse was in a lovely rhythm. They were talking about the racing gods the other day – well, this was in the hands of the racing gods, definitely.”
“He’s had a lovely lead-up into the race,” Size said. “His three runs were very good. He’s trained well and trialled well all the way through to today. He’s had every opportunity, he drew a good gate, he had a perfect run and Nash put him in a beautiful position so it was hard to see him being beaten from there.
“To D B Pin’s credit, though, he’s probably covered a lot of extra ground from the gate and he’s made him work for it. Both horses have run very well.”
On the runner-up “I am sad but happy. I was very confident,” Doleuze said. “Last time I could not really test him but today he has run against an impressive horse and run a great race. He gave me everything.”
Size said that Mr Stunning would likely be confined to a domestic programme, with races like the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) in January and G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) in April likely to be on his agenda.
“I’m not sure he’s got the constitution to travel, I’m not sure if he’s that tough,” Size said. “At home though, if he’s looked after in Hong Kong, he’ll keep racing well.”
On a day which saw a number of horses win from the front, or those tracking the lead, it should have been obvious by race eight that Time Warp was in the Cup with a huge chance. Going out as a $4.00, many punters had cottoned onto the pattern of the day.
Yet a front running ride has to be well executed, not too fast so as to exhaust your mount and not too slow so that you encourage others to make a mid-race move. Zac Purton pulled this off pefectly. Asked if he’d seen another horse in the run, he commented “A couple behind the gates and then pulling up but I don’t know where they were in between.” The win gave Purton a clean sweep of the four races on International day.
A winner of five consecutive races, including a pair of Listed stakes, when trained in England by Sir Mark Prescot, Time Warp was winning his first stakes race in 14 starts in Hong Kong and he chose the right stage to do it. He has been progressing along nicely of late however and a break through win at this level was no boil over.
“I couldn’t see much speed on paper before the race so, unless anyone did anything differently, I thought I might be able to get my way in front,” said Purton. “I had a very easy time and that was key to the result. Tony has a great deal of confidence in his horse and he rang me this morning specifically to talk about this one so I thought he must have been pretty keen on him.”
Beaten favourite Werther, just had too much ground to make up at the end. “There was no speed up front and you couldn’t be where he was unfortunately,” said trainer John Moore. “I wanted him to be ridden closer but, whatever happened, he just wasn’t there in the spot I wanted. It meant he had too much ground to make up and would have had to run an impossible sectional to win. He hasn’t disgraced and we can now look down the road to the Stewards’ Cup, Gold Cup and perhaps Dubai.”
Trainer of the winner Tony Cruz also has overseas aspirations for his charge. “I would love to go abroad with him. He is a very versatile type of horse: he can go on the soft; he can go on the firm; he can go on the dirt too. I am sure this horse can go places. He is a very sound horse and he is a healthy horse. I haven’t done his programme but I believe he can win elsewhere.”
On the race Cruz said, “I told Zac to stay cool, ride the way I want this horse to be ridden. Zac did exactly what I wanted him to do. He just took him to the front and nobody was going to catch him. I said, ‘just wait for them to come, and when they push you, go. When they came, he just took off.”
