I have returned from a short trip to Korea where I met the new president of the Korea Racing Authority and, as Chairman of the Asian Racing Federation, discuss the ongoing preparations for this May’s 37th Asian Racing Conference in Seoul. It was a productive visit and I am very much looking forward to this event.
Sunday is a big day at Sha Tin with two highly competitive Group 1 contests, both with HK$10 million in prize money. The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup goes as Race 8 and trainer John Moore has a remarkable record in the race, having won nine of the past 12 editions, the last five in a row, and he will look for more with his main hope also the defending champion, Werther. But without question, racing fans will pay close attention to the seasonal return of Pakistan Star, a 2016 Hong Kong International Sale graduate who has earned HK$15 million since, was second in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup and has a worldwide reputation for his various antics, which everyone hopes are behind him.
Following last June’s incident in which he stopped mid-race, the Racing Stewards imposed a series of trackwork and trial requirements for Pakistan Star to complete in order to be permitted to race again, which he has subsequently accomplished without issue. His last trial, an easy win over Werther and Seasons Bloom, along others, was incredibly impressive, but this 2000m test is surely a tough challenge and presents one of the most compelling editions of the race in recent memory.
Race 9 is the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and features a number of emerging talents such as Beat The Clock, Fifty Fifty, Pingwu Spark and Southern Legend taking on some more established stars such as Helene Paragon and the last two LONGINES Hong Kong Mile winners, Beauty Only and Beauty Generation. The intermediate distance of 1400m provides a fair ground for sprinters and milers in the field and I expect a very interesting affair.
The Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup has attracted nine runners and five of these runners have an International rating of 115 or above which, shows the depth of quality in this race. The pace is expected to be good to slow which will give an advantage for horses on the pace, and I would not be surprised if Time Warp tried to steal the race like he did in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup in December by running slow sectionals. He missed the start in the Stewards’ Cup which is over 1600m last start, but should go forward as is his normal pattern. Dinozzo is likely to track and the speed map suggests that Pakistan Star should be just off the speed, perhaps as well with Werther. Seasons Bloom should settle in midpack with Gold Mount and Eagle Way behind.
Time Warp is working very well, and with an international rating of 119, is a strong win and place chance. But, I prefer Werther at an International Rating of 118, with blinkers applied, he should be sharper and better positioned than in the Hong Kong Cup.
Pakistan Star, with an international rating of 118 trialled very well, and he could upset both, but is in my view lacking full race fitness. He should run a good race which should bring him on for the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup as his main target.
Seasons Bloom, at an international rating of 117, is working very well too and Moreira advises he should have no problem with the extra distance stepping up from his convincing win in the Stewards’ Cup. But I have yet to be convinced that 2000m is his best distance, and see him as not more than a place chance.
The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup has eight of the 11 starters at a Rating of 115 or higher which shows again the depth on quality in this race and personally, I would have loved to see Seasons Bloom in this race rather than the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, which would have made the choice for Moreira quite difficult between him and upcoming potential 4-year-old star Beat The Clock, rated 117.
The pace is also projected to be good-to-slow. Peniaphobia is a reliable front-runner and should go to the lead with Beauty Generation and Pingwu Spark chasing. Giant Treasure and Fifty Fifty will be midfield, along with Beat The Clock and Western Express. Southern Legend should be near the rear with Beauty Only and Helene Paragon.
Beat The Clock is working very well, should be well-positioned to burst to the front and is my first choice for a win and place. Fifty Fifty is working very well, and to come back in distance from his tremendous performance in the Stewards’ Cup finishing second is, in my view, not necessary ideal.
Helene Paragon was disappointing in the Stewards’ Cup and maybe he still felt the strong run in the Hong Kong Mile, and one should not underestimate him, being at an international rating of 119. Coming from last with the expected good-to-slow pace makes him more a place chance in my view.
The two “Beauties,” Beauty Generation at 118 and Beauty Only at 117 are always competitive and working well but see them more as place chances. Southern Legend, who has an international rating of 115, is working extremely well and ran well in the Stewards’ Cup, rallying late to finishing fourth, and is the dark horse for me who could surprise.
The same applies to Western Express, with a rating of 116, who is a four-time winner over 1400m, which is, in my view, his best distance.
Pingwu Spark is in tremendous form and working very well, but will likely be three wide which will make it difficult for him, being rated just 106, to beat the heavyweights in this race.
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