The global racing year is in full stride after last weekend’s Dubai World Cup meeting and several things are clear after Saturday’s events at Meydan.
Optimism was guarded for the four Hong Kong challengers, but Gold Mount ran a solid race for fourth in the Dubai Gold Cup and Fight Hero also ran an honest race in the Golden Shaheen.
Godolphin’s resurgence in recent years has been clear for all to see and four major wins – supplied by Cross Counter, Blue Point, Old Persian and Thunder Snow – confirmed that they are extremely hard to beat on their own patch.
Three wins on the dirt delivered a big night for American raiders, but Almond Eye was billed as the star of the show in advance and the Japan Cup heroine certainly didn’t disappoint by beating Vivlos by a length and a quarter at level weights in the Dubai Turf.
Japan’s quest to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has been a long and sometimes frustrating one and it will be fascinating to see how this special filly progresses as she heads towards Europe’s greatest race at Longchamp in October.
However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Vivlos’s fine second in the Dubai Turf also paid an indirect and yet notable compliment to Beauty Generation.
Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year gave Vivlos 4lb and beat her hands down by three lengths when they met in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile last December and it will be great to see the master miler back in action as he bids for his eighth straight win against old rivals like Conte and Pakistan Star in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin this Sunday.
The long-running battle between our leading sprinters continues when Mr Stunning and Beat The Clock square off for the seventh time in the Sprint Cup and, provided they come through this weekend’s tests, Hong Kong’s elite performers will be primed to take on the international stars in what promises to be a memorable FWD Champions Day on 28 April.
As for Wednesday’s meeting at Sha Tin, the Class 3 Mei Lam Handicap is an 1800m finale and looks an interesting puzzle with seven of the 14 runners making their first-ever start on the All-Weather track.
The pace will be modest with Ping Hai Treasure and Red Elysees setting the tempo. Right Honourable, with new apprentice Alfred Chan riding, will be closer than usual along with Vincy and Dragon Commander.
Of those making their first start on the dirt surface, Vincy and Namjong Plus are the two that have shown promise in their morning trackwork and are the preferred choices to perform well. Both are place chances.
Volpino proved very difficult to settle during the early stages of his last race when the pace was extremely slow. He should get a better run here from slightly worse than midfield as he steps up in trip and is a win and place chance.
Good Fit will be go back as usual from his wide draw but will be closing late and is a place chance. He is a seven-time winner over the track and a three-time winner over the track and distance. He comes out of an exceptionally fast race in his last start which had an extended rating band of 85-60 and this field should be more to his liking.
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