In my last blog, I shared with you my feelings and impressions regarding our Hong Kong runners at Meydan last weekend. It is also worth mentioning the fascinating performances we witnessed from some overseas runners that evening.
Foremost among those has to be Animal Kingdom. Before the race I said in my blog that this American runner would be an interesting horse in the Dubai World Cup. He certainly proved that he’s the real deal in the US$10 million event as he was thoroughly dominant in dispatching his opponents. In every aspect it was a really impressive win.
Victory on Meydan’s Tapeta track means that this versatile champion has now achieved top-class successes on dirt and synthetic surfaces while also exhibiting outstanding form on turf at the highest level. He is a rarity in global racing as in recent years I can’t recall another top horse having such versatility on a variety of surfaces in different G1 events. These attributes mark the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner as a special horse. I will be interested to see if he runs in Europe this summer, not just to see how he fares on turf against star European horses but also to see how he handles another challenge – the undulating tracks, be they straight, clockwise or counter clockwise. And on the subject of versatility, what about Mr Ronald Arculli’s LONGINES Hong Kong Vase winner, Red Cadeaux? The popular globetrotter took second place over a distance that everyone seemed to think was too short.
As I also mentioned in my last blog, both Joy And Fun’s and Eagle Regiment’s performances were really good. Both horses are trained by our two home-grown trainers - Derek Cruz and Manfred Man, whose efforts bear testimony to the depth of racing talents in Hong Kong. But in applauding our two heroes and their teams I must give credit to the winner, Shea Shea, who seems to be a sprinter of the highest order.
Shea Shea’s trainer Mike de Kock often pays Hong Kong a visit at this time of year as he loves to bring a horse or two here to contest our two spring internationals – the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup and the Champions Mile. After the Dubai World Cup meeting, much of the international focus shifts to our two big Group 1 races and a few horse connections have already shown their interest. De Kock sent out The Apache to run second in the G1 Dubai Duty Free and he is one that the South African has under consideration to make the trip east. You will know which Dubai performers have made the list of selected horses when we make our announcement in the coming two weeks.
With the APQEII Cup and Champions Mile in mind, there will be some clues at Sha Tin as some of the probable contenders for these two top races will feature in the HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy. Among those using the race as their step-up run to one of the big races are Xtension, who is seeking an unprecedented hat-trick in the Champions Mile, and G1 winners in Thumbs Up and Fay Fay. It promises to be an absorbing battle over the mile distance.
In this mile event, many of the horses usually race in midfield or further back, resulting in a slow pace which favours horses in the front of the field. Aomen should be able to lead and set a slow pace, with Helene Spirit in the box seat inside of Xtension. Admiration should be well placed behind the leaders with Pure Champion and Dan Excel in midfield. Dominant and Fay Fay are expected to be behind midfield with Packing Whiz and Thumbs Up at the back of the field. Xtension is coming back to his best and is for me the horse to beat! Fay Fay was taken back in his last start and finished strongly. Although he is not the choice of Douglas Whyte this time, I still see him as a place chance. Whyte is riding Dan Excel instead, who is coming back in distance from his last start and is for me a place chance too. Thumbs Up ran a terrific race after his long injury break last time out, and I would not rule him out for a place.
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