This past week brought with it some notable moments on the world football scene, which I’m sure the football fans among you would have taken a close interest in.
The standout news, of course, came out of England as Manchester United parted company with their manager David Moyes and set social media ablaze with comments, spanning across the globe. Meanwhile, United’s arch rivals Liverpool went five points clear at the top of the Premier League and are getting closer to their first league title since 1990. And on the Champions League front Real Madrid took a slender lead in their semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich, and Atletico Madrid and Chelsea ended their semi all square.
That is all very exciting but it hasn’t been enough to take my sporting focus away from racing this week as we have been building up to the G1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin. Audemars Piguet has sponsored this springtime international event since 1999, the year after I arrived in Hong Kong to join the Club. Actually, Audemars Piguet is now our longest-standing major race sponsor, as this is the 16th year that the race will be held under their name.
A few of the horsemen who are involved in this year’s race have been staunch supporters of the contest in recent years. South African trainer Mike de Kock is one of them and the participation of Vercingetorix and Sanshaawes means that this will be the 11th consecutive year that he has sent at least one runner for the APQEII Cup. Japanese trainer Katsuhiko Sumii enjoyed an emphatic success in this race not long ago, with Rulership in 2012, and we are glad to have him here again as he has sent his classic winner Epiphaneia to Hong Kong this time. That same sentiment applies to Uncoiled’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi who is currently the leading trainer in Japan.
Of course I must mention John Moore as he’s the most successful trainer in the APQEII Cup in recent years. John has bagged three victories with Viva Pataca in 2007 and 2010, and Military Attack last year. He will have four runners tomorrow and so it goes without saying that he has a good chance of securing a fourth success in this race, with Military Attack defending his title and Designs On Rome looking like he could be an outstanding BMW Hong Kong Derby winner.
It was good as always to meet and chat with the many international horsemen and racing media who were at the track yesterday morning. I was looking forward to seeing the international stars for myself. As it turned out, I was a day too late! All four overseas contenders had already had their fast gallops the previous morning and remained at the quarantine stables on Friday, stretching their legs around the trotting ring, so did not come out onto the track.
It was still nice to talk to so many racing media friends and to exchange our views regarding this race. They all share the consensus that despite the race having a smaller than average field of 10, it isn't short of quality. With all of the major contenders getting fair draws, there will be no particular disadvantage and I believe we will see an intriguing contest on Sunday.
I have also spent some time analysing the race. Japanese runner Uncoiled from Gate 1 is likely to be the only speed horse in this race. Unless he sets up some fast sectionals early, the race will likely be run in a slow tempo. Horses who can produce fast final sectionals, as well as those who are more tactically versatile, may be favoured.
Despite that, there are plenty of quality horses in the field and I would say four to six of them possess great credentials. Five of the runners are four-year-olds, and I think they could prove to be a dominating force in this year’s APQEII Cup if they all perform to their best. Designs On Rome, from the way he won on his past two starts, has shown to all that he’s a very special and talented horse. With the weather being a bit unstable and perhaps a bit of rain to be expected during the weekend, this may even increase his chances, as the horse has proven that he can handle give in the ground when he raced as a two-year-old in Ireland.
De Kock’s Vercingetorix could well be Designs On Rome’s main opponent. Despite the horse being transported from South Africa to Dubai via an indirect route, forcing the horse to take a long break from racing, he still won impressively in Dubai early this year, and only suffered his first career defeat last time in the Dubai Duty Free on Dubai World Cup night. There is no doubt that he is a horse with a lot of ability. Interestingly, his sire Silvano won the 2001 APQEII Cup on a good to yielding track at Sha Tin, so if we do get rain-affected ground on Sunday, that should hold no fears for him.
Two more four-year-olds also have a good chance. Epiphaneia comes to Hong Kong carrying strong form from Japan, and the consistent Dibayani is a horse I like, although he has to overcome a wide draw and a race distance of 2000m that might ultimately prove to be a bit on the short side for him. Among the older brigade, we know that Military Attack and Dominant are both top class horses, but it remains to be seen whether they can produce their very best form in what will be their first start after returning from tough races in Dubai.
Meanwhile, the Sprint Cup is run as a HKG2 over 1200m, in which Group 1 winner Lucky Nine has to carry an extra weight of five pounds as penalty. The pace should be on the slow side with Bullish Friend as leader with Go Baby Go and Rich Tapestry following him. Lucky Nine and Straight Gold should be placed in midfield with Charles The Great and Frederick Engels having to come from behind and overcome the slow pace. Charles The Great and Frederick Engels are working very well and in my opinion they are the main chances in this race. Frederick Engels was a bit disadvantaged in his last start as he had only had limited room early in the straight, but he still managed to running home strongly. He has Joao Moreira on board this time and he will be my first choice. Lucky Nine is wearing blinkers and should not be underestimated, with Straight Gold who is working well recently a place chance.
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