From Breednet.com.au

Australian bred horses won six of the 10 races run at Sha Tin on Sunday with winners for Flying Spur (Sapelli, Dream Horse), Fusaichi Pegasus (USA) (Energetic Boy), Danehill (USA) (Ample Gains), Elusive Quality (USA) (Dynamic Blitz) and Danewin, whose unbeaten son Fair Trade made a victorious HK debut.

Having his first start for new trainer Caspar Fownes, Fair Trade jumped well from barrier one and went forward to settle just behind the leaders and when switched between runners as at the top of the straight let down in great style to win the 1400 metre Class Two event by half a length over another ex-Australian in Fleet Command (formerly stakes-placed Victorian Viator).

Retained to race by his breeders Joe and Dara Vella in partnership with Mick Kent, Fair Trade won his only two starts in Australia including the Group Three VRC C.S. Hayes Stakes earlier this year before he was sold to HK for what is believed to be a record sum for a tried horse.

Mr and Mrs Vella operate under the Wingrove Park banner and have enjoyed much success from their small band of broodmares, producing several stakes horses with Fair Trade joining dual Group Three winner Dedicated Miss, the dual Listed winner Classiconi and the smart three year-old stakes-winner Sparks Fly.

Papal Power (USA) mare Villa Igea, the dam of Fair Trade, was purchased by Wingrove on the advice of their bloodstock agent Kristen Manning for $75,000 at the 2001 Inglis Broodmare Sale and it was her recommended mating to Danewin (pictured) that produced Fair Trade.

A member of the prolific Eight Carat (GB) clan, Villa Igea has as her grandam the terrific broodmare Cotehele House (GB) - also dam of Danewin, so Fair Trade has a close 2 x 3 cross of this influential mare.

The Hong Kong racing season comes to an end on July so it was good for Fair Trade to get at least one win on the board in preparation for the big HK races later in the year.

By MURRAY BELL, Racing Post (Hong Kong)

Brett Prebble will again answer to the domestic dominance of Douglas Whyte in the jockeys' premiership, but at Royal Ascot on Saturday he has the opportunity to further expand his personal domain of superior performance. Prebble has emerged as the leading jockey in the international arena and the recent KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore on Sacred Kingdom gave him his third foreign Group One as a representative of Hong Kong.

Now we are admittedly talking about a limited sample here, with just six Group One races having fallen to Hong Kong-trained horses on foreign soil since Fairy King Prawn created the precedent in the 2000 Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo, ridden by Robbie Fradd.

But if Prebble and Sacred Kingdom can conquer the best from Europe and Australia on Saturday in the Golden Jubilee Stakes, that will give Prebble four of Hong Kong's eight foreign successes, and 50 per cent would be an amazing strike rate for something that most jockeys regard as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Prebble came to Hong Kong originally for the final tranche of the 2002-03 season. He arrived with outstanding credentials, having been champion apprentice and twice Melbourne's champion jockey.

However, after he settled in at Sha Tin he also learned what so many other jockeys had experienced before him - it's a thankless task pushing around horses that no one else wants to ride at the back end of any season.

Prebble broke through at only his sixth ride on the Tony Cruz-trained Successful Spirit at Sha Tin on March 23, 2003. The gelding started at 26-1, making it the shortest priced horse he'd handled to that point. However, it was another 81 rides before his next winner, the David Oughton-trained Bravissimo (22-1) at Happy Valley on May 7 and things were far from rosy.

The turnaround rested on the ample shoulders of a noble grey called Precision, who should have been ridden by Whyte in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m), but the Durban Demon was held to a prior engagement for Blue Stitch by trainer Tony Millard.

www.racing.scmp.com

From RACING POST HK

There can hardly be a more appropriately named horse in Hong Kong racing than Joy And Fun, who defied the weights and measures in last saturday's Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) to confirm his place as the favourite in trainer Derek Cruz's heart. Cruz won a Hong Kong Sprint with Natural Blitz in 2005 and has handled some high class gallopers in his career, but admitted after the victory that Joy And Fun (Brett Doyle) held pride of place.

"He's the one, he's my favourite horse," Cruz laughed. "He's been such a great horse for the stable and his owners, they couldn't be happier. That's nine wins now and his second win this season in one of the feature races with weight - it's tough to even win one of them that way."

Shunned by punters at 33-1 due to his 133-pound handicap, Joy And Fun got a great ride from Doyle, who landed a double on the day, then gave his all in the battle down the straight just as he always has.

"He wasn't comfortable in the wet ground last time, that was the day that the last two races were called off," Cruz said.

"And dropping back to 1,400m was important too. It's his pet distance and, even though he has won twice at the mile, he can overrace at 1,600m.

"Lately he has been doing that and hasn't be able to kick at the finish. Back at 1,400m, with some speed in the race, I thought we came here with a chance even with the big weight," he added.

www.racing.scmp.com

American Aaron Gryder, who won the Dubai World Cup, and Australian William Pike have answered a call from the Jockey Club to ride at the final meetings of the season and alleviate the jockey shortage. With a number of jockeys sidelined by injury and suspension, the club is walking a tightrope with numbers and an offer to riders found guilty of careless riding on Wednesday night to take fines instead of bans failed to attract much interest.

The club has imported Singapore-based Robbie Fradd today to fill the gap, but Pike and Gryder will be in action for the final four meetings of the season. Gryder, 39, will become the first US-based rider to take up anything more than a visitor's licence since Gary Stevens 14 years ago. The winner of more than 3,100 races, Gryder is best-known as the partner of 2009 World Cup winner Well Armed.

For 23-year-old Pike, Perth's leading jockey, the final four meetings will also be a chance for the West Australian star to introduce himself to Hong Kong racing. Pike has already been licensed to ride here from September with a half-season licence for next term. Pike is due to arrive on Monday and Gryder on Wednesday, with the two jockeys to take mounts at Sha Tin next week.

Young Elite raised the discomfort level for trainers' premiership pacesetter John Moore when he gave Caspar Fownes his sole win in the Lai Chi Chong Handicap - but it was a significant single on an afternoon when neither Moore nor John Size led in a winner. Fownes moved to 60 wins, only two behind Moore on the title chase, when Young Elite (Brett Prebble) impressively won his way to better races in this Class One handicap at 1,800 metres.

The larrikin in Fownes was even tempted to tease Moore with the possibility that the rising star may run again on final day. However, the reality is that the 2008-09 season is over for Young Elite, whose ownership - members of the Racing Club - flooded the winner's circle after the race to highlight just how much fun a progressive, syndicated racehorse can be.

"He's done a great job," Fownes said. "That's five wins and three placings from nine starts and he's held together well. He's not a horse that carries a lot of condition but he's stayed solid and got stronger as the season progressed. You've got to think he's a chance to take the step up to the top level and I would like to give him that chance."

After winning his previous two starts impressively at 1,600m, Fownes eased this grandson of champion Sunday Silence up to 1,800m yesterday and the added stamina requirements made no difference to him. "I think this horse will get 2,400 metres next season, I really do," Fownes insisted. "He's a very versatile horse, he could win first-up at 1,400 metres and go right through the distance spectrum to 2,400 metres, and you don't get many of those. The way I think we'll tackle next season is to aim towards the International Cup Trial [2,000m] in November. From there we'll know what to do - firstly, whether he's good enough and secondly whether to head to the Cup at 2,000 metres or the Vase [2,400m]."

Prebble, who won the Jockey Challenge yet again with 36 points, is two from two on Young Elite and is happy to support Fownes in his pursuit of bigger races.

(From Murray Bell, HK Racing Post)

Reigning champion trainer John Size may have been out of luck and thousands of kilometres away yesterday, but that didn't stop Caspar Fownes and him from turning up the heat in the trainers' championship at Sha Tin. With six meetings to run, John Moore leads by five from Fownes, who scored with Natural Nine in the day's feature, with only one more back to Size, who landed a double.

The job left to do in such a short space of time is by no means easy for Fownes and Size, but they would have gained some heart when Moore was unable to reply, with his best result Johnson, who was just touched off in the final race.

Caspar Fownes was handing out "ride of the month" awards to Jacky Tong Chi-kit, after Tong's navigation to get Natural Nine home in the Skol Cup (1,650m) from the outside draw.

"We had some frustrating barrier draws on the card today and the outside of the field on the dirt is never a great place to be," said Fownes. "I said to Jacky that we didn't have too many options and he'd have to ride Natural Nine for luck, but what a great job he's done."

Tong took Natural Nine across behind the field from the gates, found the rail, then burrowed up to third horse back along the rail before the runners had left the straight the first time.

"I was lucky. The leader, Silver Sun, kicked away at the top of the straight and that left a gap for the horses following him along the rail to come through - if Silver Sun hadn't done that, I would have had nowhere to go," Tong smiled.

www.racing.scmp.com

By MURRAY BELL in Racing Post HK

Hong Kong's raiders face an uphill battle in today's Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo, and even from more favourable barriers Armada and Sight Winner would have their hands full against Japan's champion mare Vodka. The athletic black mare thrashed Armada by 3 1/2 lengths in this very race last year, and showed she is right back on song with a seven-length victory against her own sex in the Victoria Mile last start.

Vodka was just awesome and the big margin was not even a full measure of her superiority. She accelerated through a split at the top of the straight - in much the way she did in last year's Yasuda Kinen - and then made the rest of the race a soft procession. She appeared to win with energy to burn.

Vodka is one of the great females of Japanese racing history. She has won at Group One level at two, three, four and five. When she won the Derby [Tokyo Yushun, 2,400m] in 2007, she became the first member of her sex to do so for 60 years.

To then mature into a world-class miler was perhaps a surprise development, but she showed real depth to her character by winning Japan's Hong Kong Cup equivalent, the Tenno Sho (Autumn), over 2,000m at Tokyo in November. The form guide will tell you it was a narrow win, but Vodka sat three-wide without cover throughout, giving the reigning Derby winner Deep Sky every opportunity to beat her.

Deep Sky is clearly a classy animal in his own right. He will be fitter than he was for his first race in 2009 when he found Dream Journey too strong over 2,000m at Hanshin in the Sankei Osaka Hai on April 5. Armada has been one of Hong Kong's best milers over the past couple of seasons, even though a minor illness limited his participation for much of last term. He has again thrived in the less humid and cooler environment and will run boldly for John Size and Douglas Whyte. Sight Winner goes into this fourth leg of the Asian Mile Challenge as a last-start winner of the third leg, the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 26.

From the HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB

Jockey Brett Prebble is leading the on-line votes among the eight candidates in this season's voting for the Most Popular Jockey award, which commenced on 1 June and has received an overwhelming response from members of the public.

As at noon today, on-line votes submitted via www.hkjc.com show that Brett Prebble leads the voting with 37%, followed by Douglas Whyte with 22%, while Matthew Chadwick stands third with 21% of votes received.

For the Most Popular Horse, Sacred Kingdom stands well on top with 36% of all votes received while Viva Pataca lies second with 29%, ahead of Sight Winner (14%).

All racing fans are certain have their own ideas about their stars of the season. Members of the public who have not yet shown their support for their favourite horse and jockey can cast their votes right away not only through the Club's website but also other channels, including the Club's Off-Course Betting Branches and the racecourses (voting form); voting hotline 1833168; by mobile phone via networks of SmarTone-Vodafone, 3HK, 1O1O, one2free, PCCW Mobile and China Mobile Hong Kong; and by PDA on m.hkjc.com.

Voting will close at midnight on Monday 15 June. Every racing fan (must be aged 18 or above and holder of a Hong Kong Identity Card) who takes part will be eligible to enter a lucky draw to win some fabulous prizes.

The Grand Prize is a 1-carat diamond worth HK$63,000. Second prize offers round-trip air tickets to Sapporo and 4-night hotel accommodation for four people plus a visit to the renowned Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido. Third prize is a Canon EOS 50D digital single-lens reflex camera worth HK$12,480 and fourth prize is a BlackBerry Storm Smartphone valued at HK$5,288.

From RACING POST HK

www.racing.scmp.com

A drop to Class Five for the first time for Wadadelight and a return to the all-weather track should result in the old-stager breaking a 27-month run of outs in the opening leg of Sunday's bumper Triple Trio day at Sha Tin. With the TT failing to be lifted last weekend, HK$53 million is up for grabs, and the nine-year-old looks great banker material after coming up with an inside alley for jockey Way Leung Wai-ming.

The Gary Ng Ting-keung-trained gelding showed he still had something to offer when running a creditable fourth to Fantastic Dancer on May 3, and he has been far from disgraced at his last two outings in unsuitable turf races, his most recent last weekend.

The last time the nine-year-old backed up quickly, he turned in his best performance in over two years when running second to Alice Too. He looks set to get an ideal run on the back of the speed after coming up with gate two and can post his ninth win on the surface. Dangers are plenty, headed by Master Tower, Bravo Horse, Couldn't Care Less, Storm's Destiny and Energetic Boy.

The middle pin appears very even, but with a rise in distance My Goal looks a terrific chance to notch back-to-back victories. The David Hall-trained gelding has always displayed nice ability and showed he was beginning to put it all together when resuming from a good break with a tidy fourth in an unsuitable 1,000m event. He stepped out three weeks later to open his winning account in good style and, with a rise in distance, he should have little trouble repeating the dose.

His toughest opposition will come from Napa II, despite drawing the outside alley, while others worth including are All Time High, Ambitious Owner, Super Surveys, Private Road and Sean Woods' in-form Accelerator.

By Alan Aitken

HK Racing Post

Trainer John Size has issued a "steady as she goes" report on his two Yasuda Kinen hopefuls after Armada and Sight Winner travelled without incident to Japan last week and settled in comfortably. Sight Winner is making his first overseas assault, while Armada was runner-up in the HK$17.5 million Group One mile last year behind Vodka, but Size said both had handled the trip well.

"They are both normal in the quarantine station. They travelled well, there was no significant weight loss for either horse and they are eating and drinking well," Size said. "I'll be there Tuesday afternoon [today], after the horses move from quarantine to the racecourse so I'll know more then, but all the reports are good."

Armada has not been quite up to his best form, but Size is hopeful the change of environment will produce improvement as it did 12 months ago. "He thrived there last year, improved as soon as he got off the plane, so hopefully that will be the case again," Size said.

Like any race, the field quality can vary from year to year, but Sight Winner and Armada will need to be on top of their game to be competitive as the Yasuda Kinen is particularly strong this time, featuring three of the highest-rated Japanese horses. Last year's Japanese Derby winner, Deep Sky, multiple Group One winner Super Hornet and an ominously in-form Vodka will be waiting for the Hong Kong pair and are arguably the best horses in Japan.

All come to the race in good form, but Vodka looks certain to be the favourite to score back-to-back wins after a devastating seven-length win last start in a Group One race restricted to her own sex. As the winner of the Asian Mile Challenge third leg, the Champions Mile, Sight Winner is eligible for a US$1 million bonus if he can take the Yasuda Kinen as well.

From Racing Post in Hong Kong

Darren Beadman waited until the 11th hour but ultimately came down on the side of youth in choosing to partner Collection in Sunday's Citi Champions & Chater Cup.
Beadman has had weeks to separate Collection and established champion Viva Pataca in the final Group One race for the season but left it until after riding their final gallops at Sha Tin yesterday. And even then it was not clear cut.

"In the end, it came down to my feeling that the younger horse might have a bit more zip," Beadman (pictured) said last night. "I think he will stay the 2,400 metres well enough and it was also a decision made with one eye to the future.

"We think Collection could be the sort of horse that could travel to Australia and be competitive in a Cox Plate, so naturally I'd like to try to stick with him."

Beadman admits to an uncomfortable feeling of dread and surrendering the ride on the mighty stayer was not done lightly.

"I rode him in his final gallop and he went like clockwork. He feels terrific, no different than he has for most of the season and almost identical to the way he felt before the QE II [Cup]. He's very fit. When he pulled up he would not have blown a candle out," Beadman said of the work with owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun's other expensive private purchase, Viva Macau."

From Racing Post HK (www.racing.scmp.com)

Having beaten only three horses to the line in five Hong Kong starts, cautious optimism is probably the best approach with Irish private purchase Energized, despite his one-length win in the opening heat at last Friday's barrier trials. Energized, ridden by Howard Cheng Yue-tin, bounced straight to the front in the 1,200m trial on the all-weather track and maintained his ascendancy throughout. He was kept up to the task by Cheng over the final 200m and maintained his momentum without quickening.

In clocking 1:11.89,Energized clearly ran the fastest time of the morning, though comparisons are probably inappropriate because the second heat, won by Golden Ball, was run at a walking pace.

Energized raced 11 times in Ireland for two wins, a maiden on debut as a juvenile and the Tetrarch Stakes over 1,400m on good-to-yielding ground at The Curragh in May last year. However, his form since being purchased to join the yard of Me Tsui Yu-sak has been disappointing, and even the addition of blinkers failed to smarten his footwork on February 22.

Tom's Six was probably the best from the group. The Caspar Fownes-trained gelding holds an entry over 1,800m at Happy Valley tonight and should get conditions to suit. He went nicely, travelling three-wide without cover and gave the impression he could have beaten Energized if jockey Douglas Whyte had become more serious with him.

In yesterday's dirt trials, Easy Ahead, from the Peter Ho Leung yard, made a one-act affair of the first heat, posting a 4 1/2-length win over talented Pretty Touch. The three-year-old, ridden by Alex Lai Hoi-wing, jumped straight to the front and was never headed.

From MURRAY BELL

Racing Post, Hong Kong

Jockey Club oddsmakers have served up a tight set of prices for this afternoon's Jockey Challenge at Sha Tin, with 89 per cent loaded into the top three chances - Douglas Whyte, Brett Prebble and Darren Beadman. It's a tough one to call because each of these three jockeys can win it and much will depend on the state of the ground after yesterday's heavy rain.

Whyte has a full book of 10 rides, including six for reigning champion trainer John Size. Eight of them were at single-figure odds on last night's 7pm tote call. Prebble has nine rides and two he picked up from Matthew Chadwick - who has been ruled out by stewards for today and next Wednesday meeting as a result of having lost consciousness at Happy Valley on Thursday night - could make the difference. They are Regency Kingdom and California Moon for Chadwick's boss Tony Cruz.

If there is to be an upset, Zac Purton might cause it. The Australian rode a winner at Doomben (Brisbane) yesterday and was listed a $17 chance on last night's chart.

Meanwhile, Weichong Marwing was cleared to ride by a specialist and will fulfil his engagements. Marwing has seven rides and was listed alongside Purton as a $17 chance.

While most eyes were on high-class milers Armada and Sight Winner, emerging four-year-old Bullish Gold showed just how much he has benefited from patient handling by scoring an impressive win down the straight 1,000m course at Tuesday's barrier trials. With Zac Purton standing in for the sidelined Marco Chui Kwan-lai, Bullish Gold sported sidewinkers and gave a strong display of sprinting to defeat straight track specialist Galbraith by a short head, clocking the fastest time of the morning for the distance (57.89 seconds).

Armada, handled by Douglas Whyte, finished an encouraging third, 2 3/4 lengths away, with Packing Buddy fourth and upset Champions Mile victor Sight Winner fifth. With his rating of 87, Bullish Gold is graded in the second half of Class Two, but he showed the Class One horses a trick or two, travelling nicely throughout and hitting the line with relish.

Bullish Gold has not raced since Derby day (March 22) when he scored over 1,200m for Matthew Chadwick. That was his first start in sidewinkers and he seemed to race with greater confidence in the new equipment. Trainer David Hall gave Bullish Gold an easy time after that breakthrough win, which came at the sixth time of asking. It was more like what we had earlier expected of Bullish Gold, a Belong To Me gelding who won three of six during his time in Australia (where he was known as Green Mankini and prepared by John White).

Galbraith is a six-year-old but, because of injuries, his career has been limited to just 13 starts. He has won three, all down the Sha Tin straight. (www.racing.scmp.com)

For four meetings while Douglas Whyte was suspended, Brett Prebble had a veritable picnic and last Sunday when the Durban Demon returned, Prebble was overseas with Sacred Kingdom. Tonight is what the fans have been waiting for - a real head-to-head with Hong Kong's two best jockeys. Prebble could extract first blood in the opening race, where he rides overnight $28 favourite Golden Opportunity. Whyte could also earn points, however, as he partners disappointing Dragon Boy, and the addition of blinkers makes two sound reasons why the gelding might improve.

From there, Prebble should have a head start and weight of numbers, with his full book compared to Whyte's six remaining rides. However, defeating Whyte is never a matter to be consummated so simply.

Prebble will expect a tough encounter and is guaranteed to get it, with Whyte's long-standing friend, Alex Wong Yu-on, supplying his last three mounts - Butterfield, Nordic Star and our front-page special Mi Reilly - all high up in betting.

On last night's tote call, Prebble was given the honour of being favourite for the clash, according to oddsmakers, at $2.20, with Whyte at $3.50 and $8 bar the two.

If there is to be an upset, Darren Beadman could spring it. He was at odds of 20-1 and could win the second race with Active Valour to set himself up nicely.

Beadman has two solid chances later - Rewarding Star and Fortune Haven, and on a night like this, two winners and a placing could be sufficient to claim victory. (www.racing.scmp.com)

Singapore's senior handicapper Mike Wanklin says Sacred Kingdom is back on top of the world, confirming the Hong Kong star performed to his former 123 international rating in Sunday night's KrisFlyer Sprint. As the racing world awaits a decision from trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fie and owner Sin Kang-yuk on a possible trip to Royal Ascot next month, Wanklin said Singapore's Kranji racecourse had been the setting for the best sprinting performance in the world in 2009.

"To me, it's pretty obvious how the race has rated up," said Wanklin, who is also the Singapore Turf Club's vice-president of racing. "Sacred Kingdom has gone to his old 123 figure, while Rocket Man has run to 122. Diabolical has been another 3-1/2 lengths and that sees him on his established rating of 113, and the fourth horse, Waikato, has run to his rating as well. The mathematics of it is pretty straight-forward and I trust my fellow handicappers [on the international panel] will agree."

Yiu conceded he had not given Ascot's Royal meeting next month much thought previously, but will listen to the advice of Prebble, who believes Sacred Kingdom is only just hitting form and would be too good in the Group One Golden Jubilee Cup.

"We will talk to Brett and have a good think about it," Yiu promised. "The good thing is we now know the horse travels. Some horses go the other way - look at Inspiration - but with Sacred Kingdom, he thrived. He was nearly 20 pounds heavier than he is at home and that's very unusual for a horse on a trip away."

Yiu was questioned about Sacred Kingdom's place on the historical racing order of merit and, after some quiet thought, he said the world champion sprinter must still defer to Fairy King Prawn. "This is a wonderful sprinter, world class of course, but Fairy King Prawn could do anything," Yiu said. "He could win down the straight at 1,000 metres, he beat the best in the world as a sprinter, he won the Yasuda Kinen at a mile in Tokyo and he split Jim And Tonic and Sunline in Dubai at 1,800 metres and should have won. To put Sacred Kingdom above Fairy King Prawn would not be fair."

Brett Prebble will push for champion Sacred Kingdom to press on towards Royal Ascot next month after the Hong Kong star set Singapore alight in last night's HK$5.29 million KrisFlyer Sprint. Sacred Kingdom, brilliantly ridden by Prebble, smashed the Kranji course record for 1,200 metres by 0.8 seconds in defeating Singapore's previously unbeaten three-year-old Rocket Man by a neck.

Sacred Kingdom was the world's champion turf sprinter of 2007 and retained that title in 2008, despite missing the second half of the year through injury. But last night's win will give him a huge chance to emulate Silent Witness as a Hong Kong-trained, three-time world champion sprinter.

Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fie was elated with the victory, saying he'd been delighted at how Sacred Kingdom had thrived during his first trip away from his Sha Tin base.

"He's done so well here, he was around 18 pounds heavier tonight than he was at Sha Tin last start [May 1] and I thought this was the best I've had him [this year]," Yiu said. "But a lot of credit must go to the jockey - he's ridden a fantastic race."

Yiu's initial reaction was that Sacred Kingdom should go home and be prepared to emulate his 2007 triumph in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint, though leaving the door open to other possibilities. When asked whether the Group One Golden Jubilee Cup at Royal Ascot next month is a possibility, Yiu replied simply: "Anything's possible."

Prebble was bullish about a potential trip to England for the world's most prestigious race meeting on the Queen's course. "My advice would be to go, without reservation," he said. "This horse is just coming right and he's actually won very softly tonight - in the final 100 metres he was floating in front and waiting for something to come at him.

"If there was a suitable race in two weeks, he could go around and win again, maybe even easier than tonight. So my vote would be go to England. He'll give them some swish over there, I promise you."

Singapore racecourse has never seen a more excited, vibrant crowd and they began cheering on the home turn as Rocket Man (Robbie Fradd) moved up on the inside of South African sprinter Mythical Flight. Rocket Man stepped up a gear and momentarily looked the winner but then Sacred Kingdom engaged him, the pair settling down to a thrilling duel that smashed all other rivals. (www.racing.scmp.com)

Punters gambled and lost when Happy Reunion went down to Lucky Red at his latest outing, but the Ricky Yiu Poon-fie-trained three-year-old is ready to turn that result around in today's Kowloon Cricket Club Centenary Cup (1,000m) at Sha Tin. Backed like he was unbeatable, Happy Reunion (Alex Lai Hoi-wing) didn't entirely let supporters down, finishing second to Lucky Red, but just became outpaced in the middle stages when a rampant Native Kid broke up the field with a sharp dash.

Lucky Red, a keen goer most of the time, relished having one go harder than him for a change and was able to keep better tabs on the lead than Happy Reunion and swept clear, looking an easy winner.

But Happy Reunion stuck to his task admirably, reducing the margin to less than a length by the finish and disposing of his remaining rivals in authoritative fashion.

He will be meeting Lucky Red on five pounds better terms this afternoon and, with just three starts under his belt, looks open to more improvement than his conqueror on that occasion.

Happy Reunion's three runs, all over this trip, have yet to see him finish out of the placings and the gelding looks a young horse on the rise.

Drawn out in gate 12, he looks ideally placed to again track up behind the speedsters and they should find him tougher to hold out over the final stages this time around.

His danger looks another lightly raced sprinter on the rise in the Tony Cruz-trained Smart Currency (Marco Chui Kwan-lai), who won down the straight that same afternoon.

Alan Aitken in the Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com)

There is a rare sense of hope among Singaporean fans that they can finally win an international race after nine empty years since Ouzo won the inaugural SIA Cup in 2000. And jockey Robbie Fradd can't help but fuel their optimism. Fradd is the jockey of unbeaten star Rocket Man, who last start ascended to Group One company with an effortless win in Singapore's top domestic sprint, the Lion City Cup (1,200m).

"Make no mistake, he's the real deal," Fradd said yesterday. "I knew very early on that he was something special. He's been winning everything on the bridle and he's still got another gear left." After Rocket Man had won only his third start, the experienced South African did something which, for him, was unheard of. He dared to compare this young restricted class sprinter with the great Fairy King Prawn. Now, normally, when a jockey draws extreme comparisons between a nice young horse with one of the greats of yesteryear, you can quietly chuckle into the back of your hand because they almost always turn out wrong and an insult to the great horse in question.

But this is different for two reasons. Firstly, Fradd is an arch-conservative and has the highest respect for Fairy King Prawn - the only other horse to get credited with being on the same plateau was Electronic Unicorn, the other great miler of Hong Kong racing. Secondly, Rocket Man has won four more since he made that statement and no horse has given him anything remotely resembling a proper contest.

Fairy King Prawn is still one of the benchmark horses of Hong Kong racing, having won the Hong Kong Sprint in 1999 before travelling abroad to win the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo in 2000. "I hate making comparisons and previously, I never have," Fradd said. "But the feel Rocket Man gives me is amazing. I don't particularly want to lead on him but he has such enormous natural speed, he ends up leading by default." However, Fradd will be happy to hand up the lead in Sunday's HK$5.29 million KrisFlyer Sprint and believes South African sprinter Mythical Flight will be simply too fast in the early stages.

"Mythical Flight has brilliant speed - he'll be too fast early for Takeover Target so I see him leading, Takeover Target taking a sit behind them and I should come across and race at the quarters of Mythical Flight."(www.racing.scmp.com)

HONG KONG (SHA TIN) on Sunday, May 17

Race 1 - Tak Shing Plate

Dashing Victory (2) faded late for fourth at his latest start over 1,200m, but had figured runner-up in two earlier runs, including one over today's trip, and must be one of main chances in this event. Penglai Xianzi (9) has disappointed at past couple following first-up March second over today's 1,000m, but is definitely going to strip fitter and has outside course bias on his side. Solitaire (12) fought on doggedly for fourth on debut last month over this trip and can figure in placings. Lucky Selection (6) showed plenty of greenness first-up over the straight 1,000m last month, but is likely to come on for that respectable fifth-place result and can pick up minor share.

Race 2 - Cox's Handicap

Napa II (6) is likely to come up short over this trip, but did work home nicely for third on his career debut last month over the 1,200m and must have claims. Newcomer Fantastisch (3) has been making nice strides in his lead-up work and can make a lasting impression first-up. Fleeting Quality (4) is drawn against bias, but did just fade late for fifth on his debut 14 days back over this trip and can be considered for a placing. Bless Us All (12) isn't anything special, but did place third over this trip back in March and can add value to exotics.

Race 3 - Parkes Handicap

Accelerator (5) has run real well back-to-back for a win and recent second behind Wild Ace over this trip and will again be picking off rivals late for another top result. Monty (7) won earlier in the term over today's 1,400m and will likely come on for a much needed fourth-place result last time out behind Wild Ace. Hot Sun (6) has produced nice stats over the 1,400m this term, including a front running third in that same Wild Ace race and will be the one to gun down late. Cheerful Happiness (13) hasn't been far off the finish on any of his seven starts this term and can add value to the placings.

Race 4 - Pilkem Handicap

Lightning Mount (10) has stayed on gamely for second at his past two starts over a mile on both turf and dirt and is an each-way fancy. Grand General (1) missed by only 3/4 of a length over this surface eight days back and will appreciate step up to a mile. Bauhinia (9) failed to make it three wins in a row last time, but was successful over this surface and trip three runs back and can't be overlooked in calculations. Night Hunter II (4) has been disappointing, but nonetheless hasn't been far off the finish in any of his three recent outings in this grade on dirt and is a place chance.

Race 5 - Gascoigne Handicap

Massive Star (6) has been threatening all season long over this surface, including placings at his past four runs, and deserves his time in the spotlight here. Mighty Sun (1) has been troubled by a bad draw at his past couple of runs over this surface, but was still a penultimate start second and must be respected from gate five. That's It (3) has been non-factor at past two runs back from bleeding attack, but dirt specialist did go a lot better in a recent trial and can figure in placings. Tiger Ridge (5) is another that has been troubled by a draw at his past few starts and did finish fourth in two earlier all-weather runs over this trip. Place roughie.

Race 6 - Hillwood Handicap

Super Surveys (11) is likely to come on for a debut third a fortnight back behind the unpredictable Animation over today's trip and can make presence felt at the finish line. Sohna (2) doesn't know how to run a bad race and will appreciate return to Sha Tin and the 1,400m. Super (10) was back to old antics when running off course at his latest start in February, but did win two of three earlier 1,600m runs and needs to be kept safe. Encosta Don (13) put in one of his better runs when kicking on well recently for third over the 1,200m and should be suited by extra 200m. Place claims.

Race 7 - Jordan Path Handicap

Zephyrus (5) had had superb campaign, including penultimate start win over today's 1,800m, and can be forgiven for latest from the impossible 14 gate over 2,000m. He has top claims. Baturo (8) has incredibly figured in the placings on 10 of his past 13 starts, the latest a third over 2,000m, and will go close. Maverick (2) had finished in the frame in two runs last month before a recent flat effort off a tough trip and needs to be kept safe in place calculations. Triumphant Diamond (1) was an improved fourth over 2,000m in this grade last time out and deserves place consideration.

Race 8 - The Kowloon Cricket Club Centenary Cup

Happy Reunion (12) will need longer sprint in time, but did handle rise in grade with close second behind Lucky Red last start over this trip and can be followed. Smart Currency (8) steps up in grade and is drawn gate one against course bias, but has made solid impression in three runs this term, all over today's 1,000m, including a comfortable last start win, and must be respected. Lucky Red (1) has exceeded expectations this term with a third 1,000m win two weeks back, but does continue to hold his condition well and will go close. Enriched (9) is winner of lone Australian start and has been making good progress with each barrier trial. Keep safe.

Race 9 - The Japan Racing Association Trophy

King Dancer (3) looks smart type in the making following second straight 1,600m win in March from three local runs and should relish today's 1,800m. He's the one to beat. Baazigar (7) has returned from break better than ever at past two runs, exiting a last start 1,800m win, and will go close. Palais D'Or (5) has had sparkling season (3 wins, 3 placings from 8 starts) and is proven 1,800m performer, but, may like his latest run, have tough run from wide gate. Fat Choy Ichiban (8) tackles 1,800m for first time, but has really hit a purple patch of form, two off-the-pace 1,600m wins from his past three starts, and must be considered for a placing.

Race 10 - Austin Handicap

Home Treasure (7) is really enjoying his racing, staying on gamely for a third win from his past five starts with another 1,600m success 21 days back, and will be hard to keep out of the finish. Legend Of Colour (1), a smart January winner over today's 1,600m and a second runner-up in February's Derby Trial over 1,800m, has been freshened up following a tough Derby run and must be respected. Presto (4) is as honest as the day is long and can run on late for a placing. Blue Sky (12) faces tougher, but did just come up a nose shy behind the useful Lambro last month over the 1,400m and remains place chance.

Race 11 - Bowring Handicap

Danzulu (2) had registered consecutive wins over today's 1,400m before a brave fourth 34 days back in a strong Class 3 over 1,600m. He has each-way claims. Dr Possible (12) faces much tougher opposition, but does appear to have some potential following a handy second-up win over 1,200m last month and must be respected. Grand Dragon (3) was just beaten on the line by Bolero over this trip last month and is still open to further improvement. He must be considered. Rocket Power (9) returned from a near career threatening injury to run a gallant second a fortnight back behind Big Profit over today's 1,400m and must be kept safe

While all eyes were on Happy Zero in yesterday's opening trial at Sha Tin, trainer John Moore again underlined the depth of his team by winning with his second-string triallist, Master Power. Darren Beadman handled Happy Zero and Howard Cheng Yue-tin rode Master Power.

Master Power surprised by racing more forward than normal and bolted to the lead on the outside of leader Ocean Tranquil on the circle. In the straight, there was only ever going to be one winner as Master Power maintained his advantage to score by 2 1/4 lengths from Ocean Tranquil, with Happy Zero working home for third without ever coming off the bridle.

Master Power has been freshened up since finishing fifth to Hawkes Bay in the Hong Kong-Macau Trophy on March 1. He was a first-up winner over 1,400m at Sha Tin on the opening day of the season but, even more significantly, has won at the back end of the previous two seasons as well. Ocean Tranquil has been off the scene since September, being sidelined after just two starts for the term. After his last start, he pulled up with a significant soundness issue, with veterinary surgeons diagnosing severe arthritis and a left front tendon injury.

The New Zealand-bred chestnut, a son of the 1998 Golden Slipper runner-up Align, has had his share of problems. In November 2007, he bled from both nostrils and was sidelined by stewards for six months. Ocean Tranquil is now with the Gary Ng Ting-keung stable and should do well on the evidence of this forward display.

(www.racing.scmp.com)

There is no Hong Kong news for Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Monday, March 23, 2009

Moore hails Beadman's HK Derby winning genius
Posted @ 08:44:00 EST
Winning trainer John Moore recalled the legendary tactical moves of his father's heyday as Australia's greatest-ever jockey after Darren Beadman brilliantly stole the HK$16 million Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin yesterday, reports the Racing Post in HK.

It says: "Dad used to do that, take a race by the scruff of the neck and Darren has produced a George Moore ride here today," said Moore after greeting his third winner of the Derby, after taking it with Makarpura Star in 1995 and Viva Pataca three years ago.

"He looked up and saw that his main danger, Thumbs Up, had gone forward and he's nullified that advantage by going around them. That was the ride of a lifetime."

Beadman's lightning decision to tack up behind outsider Galaxy Treasure and improve his position to be in front of Thumbs Up midrace instead of towards the rear, where he had settled, turned the race into a one-act affair and Collection spread his rivals out over many lengths at the finish with a powerful display.

"The pace was very muddling and I had to play the cards that were dealt to me, but I had great confidence in the horse," said Beadman.

"I've probably enjoyed this win more than most of even the big races I've won - John worked very hard to get me back here riding, I owe him a great deal and to win the Derby for him - to Hong Kong people it's such a prestigious race - is just such a great thrill."

The classic was a victory for a lot of careful planning, a calculated gamble by Beadman and the Jockey Club's introduction of trainer syndicates in recent seasons.

Moore put together a syndicate of seven, including one of his regular owners Matthew Wong Leung-pak and Bernie Yu Shui-san, a relation by marriage to casino magnate Stanley Ho Hung-sun for whom Moore won with Viva Pataca.

Monday, February 23, 2009

James Winks lands Group One winner in Hong Kong
Posted @ 11:09:00 EST
James Winks was swept to cloud nine on the broad back of 50-1 chance Dim Sum in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize and as darkness fell on Sha Tin last night, there was no sign of his coming down any time soon, reports Murray Bell of the Hk Racing Post.

He says: Winks, 25, declared he had just achieved "every jockey's dream" of landing a Group One race in Hong Kong and the Melburnian's reaction was euphoric as he lived out that dream alongside champion trainer John Moore during the presentation ceremony for the HK$4.5 million feature.

Winks, who had won two Group Ones in Australia, emerged triumphant in a battle of tactics where his major rivals - Enthused (Douglas Whyte), Sacred Kingdom (Olivier Doleuze) and Green Birdie (Christophe Soumillon) - all had legitimate excuses.

"This is just amazing," said a stunned Winks after posing for photos with Moore and the Sprint Prize silverware. "Just being here is a great experience but to win a race like this, so soon, is way beyond anything I had expected.

"I got those two early winners here but then the last few weeks have been a struggle. But they tell me that happens to everyone when they get to Hong Kong and to just keep going and something will happen. Well today something incredible happened and I can't thank John and the owners, the Pong family, enough for giving me this opportunity."

Moore, who completed the Group One double with Dim Sum some 35 minutes after Viva Pataca had won his second Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, also expressed heartfelt thanks to owner David Pong Chun-yee and his grandmother, the devout fan Cynthia Pong Hong Chu-siu.

"When my father first came to train here in the early 1970s, Mrs Pong was one of our first clients and she has been a staunch supporter ever since," Moore said. "She's an icon in racing and there will never be another like Mrs Pong - congratulations to her, she puts so much in and deserves everything she gets. I hope winning another Group One for her today has topped it all off and repaid her, in part, for all the support she has given the Moore family over four decades."

Ironically, David Pong also won the Chairman's Sprint Prize three years ago with Billet Express at odds of 24-1 at the expense of a proven performer in Scintillation and a virus-debilitated Silent Witness.

After the races, Winks fielded congratulations from a number of jockeys, but the one with the best parallel story was Brett Prebble. "This will be the turning point for you," Prebble told him. "In my first season, I fluked picking up the ride on Precision and we won the Group One Champions & Chater Cup, but that one win was the difference between me staying here and going home."

Olivier Doleuze claimed barrier one and at least two bouts of interference stood between victory and defeat for comeback sprinter Sacred Kingdom.

Stewards looked at early interference to Sacred Kingdom from River Jordan (Darren Beadman) and severely reprimanded Beadman, warning him "while the stewards accept competitive riding, he must exercise care to ensure his riding does not place him in breach of a significant Rule of Racing".

Sacred Kingdom's next start is expected to be a return bout against Good Ba Ba in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on March 15.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Kildare dishes out the medicine in Hong Kong
Posted @ 19:26:00 EST
The New Zealand-breeding industry celebrated its sixth stakes success in Hong Kong this season on Saturday, when the talented O'Reilly galloper Kildare (NZ) stepped up to the challenges of group racing, and scored the biggest win of his career in the HK-3 Chow Fook Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m) at Sha Tin.

Heading into the race with a three-win from eight starts formline, Kildare (NZ) dented the reputations of some of Hong Kong's most successful and seasoned campaigners including the Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint winner Inspiration, the Gr.1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup winner Joyful Winner, and the former Gr.1 winner in New Zealand, Nightlign (NZ).

Trained by Derek Cruz the New Zealand-bred four-year-old cut out the 1000m sprint in a slick time of 56.80, prevailing in the feature race of the card by a half-head margin from fellow NZ-bred galloper Enthused (NZ) (Centaine).

Two starts prior Enthused (NZ) had won the Gr.3 Hong Kong International Sprint Trial and subsequently ran fourth in the Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint.

"You can call it whatever you like -- Premier class, Group class or whatever -- but today these are the big boys and Kildare has really made a name for himself now." trainer Derek Cruz said.

Recognising his new stable stars talent, Cruz will now set Kildare (NZ) for the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint over 1000 metres on February 1, the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.

Prior to his sale to the Cruz stable, Kildare (NZ) won his raceday debut as a three-year-old in New Zealand. He was originally owned by Bruce and Maureen Harvey of Ascot Farm, and was trained by Yves Seguin.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Cruz gets sentimental as Bullish Luck, and Felix, depart
Posted @ 12:47:00 EST
Trainer Tony Cruz could be forgiven for thinking this holiday season resembles the end of an era now that stable stalwart Bullish Luck's retirement from racing coincides with the departure from Hong Kong of Felix Coetzee, his former retained jockey and close friend.

While those involved at the sharp end of Hong Kong racing are not known for their sentimentality, Cruz says he will nevertheless feel a pang of nostalgia when he watches the former Horse of the Year parade one last time at Sha Tin on New Year's Day, the occasion of his tenth birthday.

"It will be strange not having him around since he's been with us for so long - I've had him for six seasons and it's been privilege to train one as good and as genuine as him," said Cruz reflecting on the horse that exits the stage as the second highest moneyspinner in local history at HK$63m.

"He was very sound, never missed any big races and he took us all over the world. He never ran a bad race and gave us so many highlights. The day he beat Silent Witness a short head in the Champions Mile stands out, as does his win in the Yasuda Kinen - he was so impressive that day. Even on his last start in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup he was still very competitive against some of the best horses in the world. We'll miss him but he has earned a long and happy retirement."

Bullish Luck won five Gr.1 races in his career, including two successive Champions Mile (2005, 2006) victories and the Yasuda Kinen (2006) in Japan. He was also a narrow and unlucky runner-up in the 2004 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup and placed third in the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race, as an eight-year-old in March 2007.

Brett Prebble was in the saddle that night in Nad Al Sheba and described the son of Royal Academy as "easily the best miler I have ridden."

Recalling his Champions Mile and Yasuda Kinen double that sealed Horse of the Year honour in 2006, Prebble said: "He had very rare acceleration, nothing like I've ever experienced on a miler.

In the Champions Mile I got a strong cart into the race there and at the top of the straight I gave him just one click and off he went. It felt like he had the race settled in one stride. But he was even better in Tokyo. I'm honoured to have been part of his story."

Thursday, November 27, 2008

HK international races set new benchmark
Posted @ 11:44:00 EST
By MURRAY BELL of the HK Racing Post

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races set a new benchmark yesterday when 38 trainers from 10 foreign jurisdictions declared to bring their horses to compete at Sha Tin on December 14.

The so-called turf world championships have never looked stronger, in terms of depth and spread of representation, with Jockey Club executive director of racing Bill Nader (pictured) expressing full confidence that each of the four Group One features would see capacity fields of 14 horses face the starter.

A total of 39 overseas horses will jet in from around the planet for the HK$62 million extravaganza, with the first one having already arrived, 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile hero Kip Deville from America.

From humble beginnings in the early 1980s, the Cathay Pacific International Races is now the biggest sporting event in Hong Kong.

The event also broke new ground last night with four American-based trainers confirming for the big day, including five-time Eclipse award-winning handler Bobby Frankel and the Hall of Fame horseman Neil Drysdale, who took the Kentucky Derby in 2000 with his first runner in the race, Fusaichi Pegasus.

Frankel, the champion trainer of America in 2002 and 2003, will start Brazilian-bred front-runner Out Of Control in the HK$20 million Hong Kong Cup, while Drysdale will have Artiste Royal in the same feature.

"This year we have met with an unprecedented level of interest from world-renowned horsemen - and an exceptional count of 38 trainers are participating from five continents," said Nader.

"And we can guarantee championship line-ups, given the presence of Breeders' Cup heroes, classic winners, defending titleholders and a whole host of Group One stars from far and wide."

The club's international racing manager, Mark Player, said the way so many top horses had performed at Sha Tin in past Decembers, and then recaptured form the next year elsewhere on the world stage, had changed the thinking of many overseas owners and trainers.

"The Hong Kong International Races is not just an end-of-year event but is now being highlighted as a key target of the racing programme for a large number of the world's top horses," Player explained.

"From last year, for example, the form of Doctor Dino and Marchand d'Or has been a great advertisement for Hong Kong.

"[Vase winner] Doctor Dino has taken that top-class form all around the world, while Marchand d'Or has emerged from his sixth placing in the Hong Kong Sprint to become the very best sprinter in Europe."

Three of the 39 horses have engagements to complete overseas this weekend before making the journey to Hong Kong. They are Purple Moon and Sixties Icon (Vase, 2400m) - who are both slated to run in Sunday's Japan Cup in Tokyo - and the Australian speed demon Apache Cat (Sprint, 1200m).

Apache Cat, the winner of five Group One races in succession last season, is set to confront the ageing, globetrotting warrior Takeover Target over 1,200 metres at Ascot, Perth, in the Winterbottom Stakes. His trainer, Greg Eurell, says that he must run either first or second to take his chance in Hong Kong.

The host nation will be very strong again, fielding 17 horses across the four races including Horse of the Year Good Ba Ba in the Hong Kong Mile and the brilliant Viva Pataca who will make his third attempt to wrest the Hong Kong Cup.

Caspar Fownes ultimately decided to run Green Birdie in the Sprint rather than the Mile, while Jackpot Delight sidestepped the in-form Viva Pataca in the Cup to concentrate on the Hong Kong Vase instead.

Hong Kong's champion trainer John Size will have three runners taking part - Enthused in the Sprint, Armada in the Mile and Sight Winner in the Cup.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Size's Kiwi bred Enthused takes Sprint trial at Sha Tin
Posted @ 11:29:00 EST
Australian bred sprinter Sunny Power and the Kiwi bred Catbird gelding Green Birdie had to settle for the minor placings in the HK International Sprint Trial HK Gr 2 at Sha Tin on Sunday with another Kiwi bred in Centaine five year-old Enthused scoring a narrow victory, reports Breednet.com.au.

It says: The John Size trained sprinter surged late to hold a narrow margin of a nose over the fast finishing Sunny Power with Green Birdie just a neck away in third, the clock stopped at a slick 1:08.20.

"I was exactly where I wanted to be early on. In the straight he got to the front a bit quicker than I wanted but he fought on very gamely. As we hit the line I thought I had missed the nod so I was delighted to see I had been wrong," said winning rider Felix Coetzee.

A $40,000 purchase for Aquanita Racing from the Windsor Park Stud draft at the 2005 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Enthused started his racing career in Australia with Robert Smerdon under the name of Let's Migrate.

He won two of four starts in Victoria between January and March in 2007, scoring at his last appearance at Caulfield over 1200 metres when he defeated subsequent dual Group One winner Sirmione by a length.

Since being transferred to John Size, Enthused has won five of 15 starts and placed a further eight times, never finishing further back than fifth.

Looking forward to the Group One HK International Sprint in December, trainer Size added: "He has come up to the mark this preparation and has run well in each of his starts and he has certainly built himself a nice platform to go into the international meeting.

“He has certainly earned the right to be there. He's a horse with very good character and he likes to fight out a finish. I'm just hoping he can get a good draw like he had today in the Sprint to help travel nicely."

Already a stakes-winner of the Sha Tin Sprint Trophy HK Gr 3, Enthused has an Australian pedigree despite his NZ suffix being by Waikato Stud's highly successful Aussie bred sire Centaine from the Aussie bred Jugah (USA) mare Free as a Bird, a full sister to Group One AJC Doncaster Handicap winner Soho Square.

This is also the family of brilliant sprinting filly Innovation Girl and Group Two VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Incumbent, so with many members of this female family at stud in Australia the win of Enthused is of particular interest. (by Tara Madgwick)

Monday, November 17, 2008

Whyte equals own record tally with Sha Tin blitz
Posted @ 16:39:00 EST
Champion jockey Douglas Whyte was in assertive mood, landing a four-timer and equalling his own record tally as he took the Jockey Challenge for the seventh time in his past eight attempts, writes Alan Aitken in the Racing Post.

His report states: With the new Jockey Challenge format of betting in the run until race six, Whyte was already down to a price of 1.06 when the pool closed, even though the Durban Demon's day was just half over.

Big Profit opened Whyte's afternoon with trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing before he linked with John Size to claim the fifth (Perfect Match), seventh (Unique Jewellery) and last (Brilliant Chapter) races.

Brilliant Chapter's performance echoed his previous two victories, reeling off a brilliant sprint at the end of 1,200m to give his rivals nowhere to hide. "He's a transformed horse and has a phenomenal turn of speed," said Whyte.

"I went back today and I followed One World because I thought he was one of the other chances, but by the turn he was no more use to me. I've dropped him in a breath and gone and yet he's still kept on to finish second in the end."

Size said the way Brilliant Chapter finishes his races off doesn't preclude the possibility he may run further but he's happy to keep him to 1,200m for now.

"He's running consistently and keeps repeating performances as he goes up the ladder and that's a very good sign for the future," Size said. "But I don't really want to test his stamina until I have to.

"He's a bit of a light horse, there's not much of him and his constitution isn't terribly tough so while he can sprint under no stress, I'll just let him do that."

Unique Jewellery was the other Dream Team winner to catch the eye, winning his fifth race from seven starts in impressive style and the well-bred four-year-old is steaming on to what ultimately looks a Derby campaign next spring.

"His record says four wins at 1,400m so on paper he's not a 2,000m horse, but since he began racing he's been able to follow the speed and remain relaxed, so if he can do that as he goes in distance then I'm sure there'll be plenty of pressure to go towards the Derby," Size said.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Olivier set for more at Sha Tin on Sunday
Posted @ 11:22:00 EST
Olivier Doleuze has limbered up and is ready for some proper action as the build-up towards the feature races begins, and an upset win in today's Jockey Challenge at Sha Tin should be a perfect scene-setter for the flamboyant Frenchman, reports Murray Bell of the Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com).

He says: Doleuze is a huge talent, as his wins in the last two editions of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile and his unprecedented series of feature mile victories last term on Good Ba Ba suggest. Race after race, Doleuze is the man for the high-pressure occasion.

Today's Ladies' Purse fixture is a curtain raiser to the big races coming up, and Doleuze has a good prospect on which to mount a successful Jockey Challenge - emerging four-year-old Deferential.

This quality chestnut is a member of the Caspar Fownes string, and he looks to be a real improver, showing the benefit of the maturity that one extra year of patience and development has brought him.

Deferential won the Group Two Todman Slipper Trial at Rosehill as a two-year-old and for what that means in terms of class, think about champion sprinters Fastnet Rock and Absolute Champion, who fought out the race two years earlier.

Just like Absolute Champion did when he came to Hong Kong, Deferential found it too hard competing against older horses in Class Two while still a three-year-old. And Fownes, with so many years of experience, knows not to push the issue with such horses.

But a top first-up run this term strongly suggests Deferential has turned the corner and may soon become another feature winner in the familiar blue and white livery of The Duke's owner, Eddie Lau Jnr.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Marwing 'not concerned' over Ricky's slow season's start
Posted @ 17:27:00 EST
While the Moore-Beadman partnership is soaring after four meetings, with each leading their respective premiership table, returned expatriate Weichong Marwing is far from concerned about the quiet start being made by his retaining trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fie, reports the HK Racing Post.

It says: Marwing left Happy Valley on Wednesday night without a winner from 14 rides in the season to date, but his positive attitude was very much intact, urging fans of the Yiu yard to have a little patience and keep the faith.

"Yes, it has been a slower start to the season but I'm not concerned in the least," Marwing said. "Ricky has a lot of nice horses coming to hand but they are not quite there yet. There's not a lot to be gained working horses hard in the heat at this time of the year - Ricky knows what he's doing."

Marwing formerly rode for the Singaporean training maestro, Ivan Allan, who won three trainers' premierships and multiple editions of every Group race in a decade of dominance before his retirement in 2004, and the South African riding ace noted the parallels.

"Ivan was a genius trainer but he would never gallop his horses hard until the heat of summer had passed," Marwing recalled. "Ivan's horses might have needed their first or second races when they resumed in the new season, but once they were fit they had a superb foundation and won plenty of races as the season progressed. I think it's a similar thing with Ricky now."

Yiu and Marwing will combine with four runners this Sunday, and perhaps the best chance is Rocket Force in the final event, the Chun Shek Handicap (1,600m).

Rocket Force, who won two out of three on softer tracks in New Zealand before his sale to Daniel Lam Ka-kuen, has only raced three times here and two of them were encouraging.

Rocket Force has not raced since June 8 when third to Triumphant Diamond over 1,800m at Sha Tin. On that occasion he was fourth past the post but elevated to third on objection.

The gelding trialled satisfactorily when fifth to Super Fantasy on September 2 and has had five steady gallops since.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Stewards quiz Beadman over tactics on UK horse
Posted @ 22:04:00 EST
Stewards grilled jockey Darren Beadman over tactics on Eyshal at Sha Tin after the British import continued the march of the John Moore yard in the Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1600m), reports the HK Racing Post.

It adds: Moore landed his third treble in as many meetings, with Sunny Golf (Beadman) following up Eyshal's victory thirty minutes later, but the stipes quickly called for an explanation after Beadman went forward on Eyshal who had been a backmarker in seven previous runs.

"They've had Darren in but anyone looking at that race today would have said that there was no pace in it and we had decided to make some more use of Eyshal today - with or without Plan Ex," Moore said. The late scratching of short-priced favourite Plan Ex after he had reared up in the gates was the opening sensation of the event, with the Jockey Club forced to refund HK$35.6 million of bets on the gelding, and it certainly made the task easier for Eyshal.

"They've only gone a working gallop then dashed home - he was going to be hard to beat sitting outside the leader," Moore said.

"That wasn't necessarily where we thought he would be, but we planned to come out, be more purposeful despite the wide barrier, then get across behind horses if the leaders kicked up under Eyshal.

"They didn't and Darren was able to get over. The horse has been taking a positive position in trackwork and enjoying it and enjoyed it again today."

Beadman said that the moderate tempo probably contributed to the win in more than the simple mathematics of sectional times, and the task those behind faced in running him down when he was finishing the race off in under 22 seconds for his last 400m.

Moore hails Beadman's HK Derby winning genius

Winning trainer John Moore recalled the legendary tactical moves of his father's heyday as Australia's greatest-ever jockey after Darren Beadman brilliantly stole the HK$16 million Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin yesterday, reports the Racing Post in HK.

It says: "Dad used to do that, take a race by the scruff of the neck and Darren has produced a George Moore ride here today," said Moore after greeting his third winner of the Derby, after taking it with Makarpura Star in 1995 and Viva Pataca three years ago.

"He looked up and saw that his main danger, Thumbs Up, had gone forward and he's nullified that advantage by going around them. That was the ride of a lifetime."

Beadman's lightning decision to tack up behind outsider Galaxy Treasure and improve his position to be in front of Thumbs Up midrace instead of towards the rear, where he had settled, turned the race into a one-act affair and Collection spread his rivals out over many lengths at the finish with a powerful display.

"The pace was very muddling and I had to play the cards that were dealt to me, but I had great confidence in the horse," said Beadman.

"I've probably enjoyed this win more than most of even the big races I've won - John worked very hard to get me back here riding, I owe him a great deal and to win the Derby for him - to Hong Kong people it's such a prestigious race - is just such a great thrill."

The classic was a victory for a lot of careful planning, a calculated gamble by Beadman and the Jockey Club's introduction of trainer syndicates in recent seasons.

Moore put together a syndicate of seven, including one of his regular owners Matthew Wong Leung-pak and Bernie Yu Shui-san, a relation by marriage to casino magnate Stanley Ho Hung-sun for whom Moore won with Viva Pataca.

Monday, February 23, 2009

James Winks lands Group One winner in Hong Kong
Posted @ 11:09:00 EST
James Winks was swept to cloud nine on the broad back of 50-1 chance Dim Sum in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize and as darkness fell on Sha Tin last night, there was no sign of his coming down any time soon, reports Murray Bell of the Hk Racing Post.

He says: Winks, 25, declared he had just achieved "every jockey's dream" of landing a Group One race in Hong Kong and the Melburnian's reaction was euphoric as he lived out that dream alongside champion trainer John Moore during the presentation ceremony for the HK$4.5 million feature.

Winks, who had won two Group Ones in Australia, emerged triumphant in a battle of tactics where his major rivals - Enthused (Douglas Whyte), Sacred Kingdom (Olivier Doleuze) and Green Birdie (Christophe Soumillon) - all had legitimate excuses.

"This is just amazing," said a stunned Winks after posing for photos with Moore and the Sprint Prize silverware. "Just being here is a great experience but to win a race like this, so soon, is way beyond anything I had expected.

"I got those two early winners here but then the last few weeks have been a struggle. But they tell me that happens to everyone when they get to Hong Kong and to just keep going and something will happen. Well today something incredible happened and I can't thank John and the owners, the Pong family, enough for giving me this opportunity."

Moore, who completed the Group One double with Dim Sum some 35 minutes after Viva Pataca had won his second Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, also expressed heartfelt thanks to owner David Pong Chun-yee and his grandmother, the devout fan Cynthia Pong Hong Chu-siu.

"When my father first came to train here in the early 1970s, Mrs Pong was one of our first clients and she has been a staunch supporter ever since," Moore said. "She's an icon in racing and there will never be another like Mrs Pong - congratulations to her, she puts so much in and deserves everything she gets. I hope winning another Group One for her today has topped it all off and repaid her, in part, for all the support she has given the Moore family over four decades."

Ironically, David Pong also won the Chairman's Sprint Prize three years ago with Billet Express at odds of 24-1 at the expense of a proven performer in Scintillation and a virus-debilitated Silent Witness.

After the races, Winks fielded congratulations from a number of jockeys, but the one with the best parallel story was Brett Prebble. "This will be the turning point for you," Prebble told him. "In my first season, I fluked picking up the ride on Precision and we won the Group One Champions & Chater Cup, but that one win was the difference between me staying here and going home."

Olivier Doleuze claimed barrier one and at least two bouts of interference stood between victory and defeat for comeback sprinter Sacred Kingdom.

Stewards looked at early interference to Sacred Kingdom from River Jordan (Darren Beadman) and severely reprimanded Beadman, warning him "while the stewards accept competitive riding, he must exercise care to ensure his riding does not place him in breach of a significant Rule of Racing".

Sacred Kingdom's next start is expected to be a return bout against Good Ba Ba in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on March 15.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Kildare dishes out the medicine in Hong Kong
Posted @ 19:26:00 EST
The New Zealand-breeding industry celebrated its sixth stakes success in Hong Kong this season on Saturday, when the talented O'Reilly galloper Kildare (NZ) stepped up to the challenges of group racing, and scored the biggest win of his career in the HK-3 Chow Fook Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m) at Sha Tin.

Heading into the race with a three-win from eight starts formline, Kildare (NZ) dented the reputations of some of Hong Kong's most successful and seasoned campaigners including the Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint winner Inspiration, the Gr.1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup winner Joyful Winner, and the former Gr.1 winner in New Zealand, Nightlign (NZ).

Trained by Derek Cruz the New Zealand-bred four-year-old cut out the 1000m sprint in a slick time of 56.80, prevailing in the feature race of the card by a half-head margin from fellow NZ-bred galloper Enthused (NZ) (Centaine).

Two starts prior Enthused (NZ) had won the Gr.3 Hong Kong International Sprint Trial and subsequently ran fourth in the Gr.1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Sprint.

"You can call it whatever you like -- Premier class, Group class or whatever -- but today these are the big boys and Kildare has really made a name for himself now." trainer Derek Cruz said.

Recognising his new stable stars talent, Cruz will now set Kildare (NZ) for the Gr.1 Centenary Sprint over 1000 metres on February 1, the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.

Prior to his sale to the Cruz stable, Kildare (NZ) won his raceday debut as a three-year-old in New Zealand. He was originally owned by Bruce and Maureen Harvey of Ascot Farm, and was trained by Yves Seguin.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Cruz gets sentimental as Bullish Luck, and Felix, depart
Posted @ 12:47:00 EST
Trainer Tony Cruz could be forgiven for thinking this holiday season resembles the end of an era now that stable stalwart Bullish Luck's retirement from racing coincides with the departure from Hong Kong of Felix Coetzee, his former retained jockey and close friend.

While those involved at the sharp end of Hong Kong racing are not known for their sentimentality, Cruz says he will nevertheless feel a pang of nostalgia when he watches the former Horse of the Year parade one last time at Sha Tin on New Year's Day, the occasion of his tenth birthday.

"It will be strange not having him around since he's been with us for so long - I've had him for six seasons and it's been privilege to train one as good and as genuine as him," said Cruz reflecting on the horse that exits the stage as the second highest moneyspinner in local history at HK$63m.

"He was very sound, never missed any big races and he took us all over the world. He never ran a bad race and gave us so many highlights. The day he beat Silent Witness a short head in the Champions Mile stands out, as does his win in the Yasuda Kinen - he was so impressive that day. Even on his last start in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup he was still very competitive against some of the best horses in the world. We'll miss him but he has earned a long and happy retirement."

Bullish Luck won five Gr.1 races in his career, including two successive Champions Mile (2005, 2006) victories and the Yasuda Kinen (2006) in Japan. He was also a narrow and unlucky runner-up in the 2004 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup and placed third in the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race, as an eight-year-old in March 2007.

Brett Prebble was in the saddle that night in Nad Al Sheba and described the son of Royal Academy as "easily the best miler I have ridden."

Recalling his Champions Mile and Yasuda Kinen double that sealed Horse of the Year honour in 2006, Prebble said: "He had very rare acceleration, nothing like I've ever experienced on a miler.

In the Champions Mile I got a strong cart into the race there and at the top of the straight I gave him just one click and off he went. It felt like he had the race settled in one stride. But he was even better in Tokyo. I'm honoured to have been part of his story."

Thursday, November 27, 2008

HK international races set new benchmark
Posted @ 11:44:00 EST
By MURRAY BELL of the HK Racing Post

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races set a new benchmark yesterday when 38 trainers from 10 foreign jurisdictions declared to bring their horses to compete at Sha Tin on December 14.

The so-called turf world championships have never looked stronger, in terms of depth and spread of representation, with Jockey Club executive director of racing Bill Nader (pictured) expressing full confidence that each of the four Group One features would see capacity fields of 14 horses face the starter.

A total of 39 overseas horses will jet in from around the planet for the HK$62 million extravaganza, with the first one having already arrived, 2007 Breeders' Cup Mile hero Kip Deville from America.

From humble beginnings in the early 1980s, the Cathay Pacific International Races is now the biggest sporting event in Hong Kong.

The event also broke new ground last night with four American-based trainers confirming for the big day, including five-time Eclipse award-winning handler Bobby Frankel and the Hall of Fame horseman Neil Drysdale, who took the Kentucky Derby in 2000 with his first runner in the race, Fusaichi Pegasus.

Frankel, the champion trainer of America in 2002 and 2003, will start Brazilian-bred front-runner Out Of Control in the HK$20 million Hong Kong Cup, while Drysdale will have Artiste Royal in the same feature.

"This year we have met with an unprecedented level of interest from world-renowned horsemen - and an exceptional count of 38 trainers are participating from five continents," said Nader.

"And we can guarantee championship line-ups, given the presence of Breeders' Cup heroes, classic winners, defending titleholders and a whole host of Group One stars from far and wide."

The club's international racing manager, Mark Player, said the way so many top horses had performed at Sha Tin in past Decembers, and then recaptured form the next year elsewhere on the world stage, had changed the thinking of many overseas owners and trainers.

"The Hong Kong International Races is not just an end-of-year event but is now being highlighted as a key target of the racing programme for a large number of the world's top horses," Player explained.

"From last year, for example, the form of Doctor Dino and Marchand d'Or has been a great advertisement for Hong Kong.

"[Vase winner] Doctor Dino has taken that top-class form all around the world, while Marchand d'Or has emerged from his sixth placing in the Hong Kong Sprint to become the very best sprinter in Europe."

Three of the 39 horses have engagements to complete overseas this weekend before making the journey to Hong Kong. They are Purple Moon and Sixties Icon (Vase, 2400m) - who are both slated to run in Sunday's Japan Cup in Tokyo - and the Australian speed demon Apache Cat (Sprint, 1200m).

Apache Cat, the winner of five Group One races in succession last season, is set to confront the ageing, globetrotting warrior Takeover Target over 1,200 metres at Ascot, Perth, in the Winterbottom Stakes. His trainer, Greg Eurell, says that he must run either first or second to take his chance in Hong Kong.

The host nation will be very strong again, fielding 17 horses across the four races including Horse of the Year Good Ba Ba in the Hong Kong Mile and the brilliant Viva Pataca who will make his third attempt to wrest the Hong Kong Cup.

Caspar Fownes ultimately decided to run Green Birdie in the Sprint rather than the Mile, while Jackpot Delight sidestepped the in-form Viva Pataca in the Cup to concentrate on the Hong Kong Vase instead.

Hong Kong's champion trainer John Size will have three runners taking part - Enthused in the Sprint, Armada in the Mile and Sight Winner in the Cup.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Size's Kiwi bred Enthused takes Sprint trial at Sha Tin
Posted @ 11:29:00 EST
Australian bred sprinter Sunny Power and the Kiwi bred Catbird gelding Green Birdie had to settle for the minor placings in the HK International Sprint Trial HK Gr 2 at Sha Tin on Sunday with another Kiwi bred in Centaine five year-old Enthused scoring a narrow victory, reports Breednet.com.au.

It says: The John Size trained sprinter surged late to hold a narrow margin of a nose over the fast finishing Sunny Power with Green Birdie just a neck away in third, the clock stopped at a slick 1:08.20.

"I was exactly where I wanted to be early on. In the straight he got to the front a bit quicker than I wanted but he fought on very gamely. As we hit the line I thought I had missed the nod so I was delighted to see I had been wrong," said winning rider Felix Coetzee.

A $40,000 purchase for Aquanita Racing from the Windsor Park Stud draft at the 2005 NZB Select Yearling Sale, Enthused started his racing career in Australia with Robert Smerdon under the name of Let's Migrate.

He won two of four starts in Victoria between January and March in 2007, scoring at his last appearance at Caulfield over 1200 metres when he defeated subsequent dual Group One winner Sirmione by a length.

Since being transferred to John Size, Enthused has won five of 15 starts and placed a further eight times, never finishing further back than fifth.

Looking forward to the Group One HK International Sprint in December, trainer Size added: "He has come up to the mark this preparation and has run well in each of his starts and he has certainly built himself a nice platform to go into the international meeting.

“He has certainly earned the right to be there. He's a horse with very good character and he likes to fight out a finish. I'm just hoping he can get a good draw like he had today in the Sprint to help travel nicely."

Already a stakes-winner of the Sha Tin Sprint Trophy HK Gr 3, Enthused has an Australian pedigree despite his NZ suffix being by Waikato Stud's highly successful Aussie bred sire Centaine from the Aussie bred Jugah (USA) mare Free as a Bird, a full sister to Group One AJC Doncaster Handicap winner Soho Square.

This is also the family of brilliant sprinting filly Innovation Girl and Group Two VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Incumbent, so with many members of this female family at stud in Australia the win of Enthused is of particular interest. (by Tara Madgwick)

Monday, November 17, 2008

Whyte equals own record tally with Sha Tin blitz
Posted @ 16:39:00 EST
Champion jockey Douglas Whyte was in assertive mood, landing a four-timer and equalling his own record tally as he took the Jockey Challenge for the seventh time in his past eight attempts, writes Alan Aitken in the Racing Post.

His report states: With the new Jockey Challenge format of betting in the run until race six, Whyte was already down to a price of 1.06 when the pool closed, even though the Durban Demon's day was just half over.

Big Profit opened Whyte's afternoon with trainer Danny Shum Chap-shing before he linked with John Size to claim the fifth (Perfect Match), seventh (Unique Jewellery) and last (Brilliant Chapter) races.

Brilliant Chapter's performance echoed his previous two victories, reeling off a brilliant sprint at the end of 1,200m to give his rivals nowhere to hide. "He's a transformed horse and has a phenomenal turn of speed," said Whyte.

"I went back today and I followed One World because I thought he was one of the other chances, but by the turn he was no more use to me. I've dropped him in a breath and gone and yet he's still kept on to finish second in the end."

Size said the way Brilliant Chapter finishes his races off doesn't preclude the possibility he may run further but he's happy to keep him to 1,200m for now.

"He's running consistently and keeps repeating performances as he goes up the ladder and that's a very good sign for the future," Size said. "But I don't really want to test his stamina until I have to.

"He's a bit of a light horse, there's not much of him and his constitution isn't terribly tough so while he can sprint under no stress, I'll just let him do that."

Unique Jewellery was the other Dream Team winner to catch the eye, winning his fifth race from seven starts in impressive style and the well-bred four-year-old is steaming on to what ultimately looks a Derby campaign next spring.

"His record says four wins at 1,400m so on paper he's not a 2,000m horse, but since he began racing he's been able to follow the speed and remain relaxed, so if he can do that as he goes in distance then I'm sure there'll be plenty of pressure to go towards the Derby," Size said.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Olivier set for more at Sha Tin on Sunday
Posted @ 11:22:00 EST
Olivier Doleuze has limbered up and is ready for some proper action as the build-up towards the feature races begins, and an upset win in today's Jockey Challenge at Sha Tin should be a perfect scene-setter for the flamboyant Frenchman, reports Murray Bell of the Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com).

He says: Doleuze is a huge talent, as his wins in the last two editions of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile and his unprecedented series of feature mile victories last term on Good Ba Ba suggest. Race after race, Doleuze is the man for the high-pressure occasion.

Today's Ladies' Purse fixture is a curtain raiser to the big races coming up, and Doleuze has a good prospect on which to mount a successful Jockey Challenge - emerging four-year-old Deferential.

This quality chestnut is a member of the Caspar Fownes string, and he looks to be a real improver, showing the benefit of the maturity that one extra year of patience and development has brought him.

Deferential won the Group Two Todman Slipper Trial at Rosehill as a two-year-old and for what that means in terms of class, think about champion sprinters Fastnet Rock and Absolute Champion, who fought out the race two years earlier.

Just like Absolute Champion did when he came to Hong Kong, Deferential found it too hard competing against older horses in Class Two while still a three-year-old. And Fownes, with so many years of experience, knows not to push the issue with such horses.

But a top first-up run this term strongly suggests Deferential has turned the corner and may soon become another feature winner in the familiar blue and white livery of The Duke's owner, Eddie Lau Jnr.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Marwing 'not concerned' over Ricky's slow season's start
Posted @ 17:27:00 EST
While the Moore-Beadman partnership is soaring after four meetings, with each leading their respective premiership table, returned expatriate Weichong Marwing is far from concerned about the quiet start being made by his retaining trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fie, reports the HK Racing Post.

It says: Marwing left Happy Valley on Wednesday night without a winner from 14 rides in the season to date, but his positive attitude was very much intact, urging fans of the Yiu yard to have a little patience and keep the faith.

"Yes, it has been a slower start to the season but I'm not concerned in the least," Marwing said. "Ricky has a lot of nice horses coming to hand but they are not quite there yet. There's not a lot to be gained working horses hard in the heat at this time of the year - Ricky knows what he's doing."

Marwing formerly rode for the Singaporean training maestro, Ivan Allan, who won three trainers' premierships and multiple editions of every Group race in a decade of dominance before his retirement in 2004, and the South African riding ace noted the parallels.

"Ivan was a genius trainer but he would never gallop his horses hard until the heat of summer had passed," Marwing recalled. "Ivan's horses might have needed their first or second races when they resumed in the new season, but once they were fit they had a superb foundation and won plenty of races as the season progressed. I think it's a similar thing with Ricky now."

Yiu and Marwing will combine with four runners this Sunday, and perhaps the best chance is Rocket Force in the final event, the Chun Shek Handicap (1,600m).

Rocket Force, who won two out of three on softer tracks in New Zealand before his sale to Daniel Lam Ka-kuen, has only raced three times here and two of them were encouraging.

Rocket Force has not raced since June 8 when third to Triumphant Diamond over 1,800m at Sha Tin. On that occasion he was fourth past the post but elevated to third on objection.

The gelding trialled satisfactorily when fifth to Super Fantasy on September 2 and has had five steady gallops since.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Stewards quiz Beadman over tactics on UK horse
Posted @ 22:04:00 EST
Stewards grilled jockey Darren Beadman over tactics on Eyshal at Sha Tin after the British import continued the march of the John Moore yard in the Kwangtung Handicap Cup (1600m), reports the HK Racing Post.

It adds: Moore landed his third treble in as many meetings, with Sunny Golf (Beadman) following up Eyshal's victory thirty minutes later, but the stipes quickly called for an explanation after Beadman went forward on Eyshal who had been a backmarker in seven previous runs.

"They've had Darren in but anyone looking at that race today would have said that there was no pace in it and we had decided to make some more use of Eyshal today - with or without Plan Ex," Moore said. The late scratching of short-priced favourite Plan Ex after he had reared up in the gates was the opening sensation of the event, with the Jockey Club forced to refund HK$35.6 million of bets on the gelding, and it certainly made the task easier for Eyshal.

"They've only gone a working gallop then dashed home - he was going to be hard to beat sitting outside the leader," Moore said.

"That wasn't necessarily where we thought he would be, but we planned to come out, be more purposeful despite the wide barrier, then get across behind horses if the leaders kicked up under Eyshal.

"They didn't and Darren was able to get over. The horse has been taking a positive position in trackwork and enjoying it and enjoyed it again today."

Beadman said that the moderate tempo probably contributed to the win in more than the simple mathematics of sectional times, and the task those behind faced in running him down when he was finishing the race off in under 22 seconds for his last 400m.

Olivier Doleuze has limbered up and is ready for some proper action as the build-up towards the feature races begins, and an upset win in today's Jockey Challenge at Sha Tin should be a perfect scene-setter for the flamboyant Frenchman, reports Murray Bell of the Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com).

He says: Doleuze is a huge talent, as his wins in the last two editions of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile and his unprecedented series of feature mile victories last term on Good Ba Ba suggest. Race after race, Doleuze is the man for the high-pressure occasion.

Today's Ladies' Purse fixture is a curtain raiser to the big races coming up, and Doleuze has a good prospect on which to mount a successful Jockey Challenge - emerging four-year-old Deferential.

This quality chestnut is a member of the Caspar Fownes string, and he looks to be a real improver, showing the benefit of the maturity that one extra year of patience and development has brought him.

Deferential won the Group Two Todman Slipper Trial at Rosehill as a two-year-old and for what that means in terms of class, think about champion sprinters Fastnet Rock and Absolute Champion, who fought out the race two years earlier.

Just like Absolute Champion did when he came to Hong Kong, Deferential found it too hard competing against older horses in Class Two while still a three-year-old. And Fownes, with so many years of experience, knows not to push the issue with such horses.

But a top first-up run this term strongly suggests Deferential has turned the corner and may soon become another feature winner in the familiar blue and white livery of The Duke's owner, Eddie Lau Jnr.