With only 15 days until the running of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on 23 March, competition for places in the city’s most prized race is intensifying as excitement and anticipation build.
Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner RUBYLOT (100) and Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) MY WISH (97) head the current order of entry from JOHANNES BRAHMS (95), PACKING HERMOD (93), DIVANO (91), RAMADAN (90), STUNNING PEACH (87), PACKING ANGEL (86), MICKLEY (85), NOISY BOY (84), CAP FERRAT (83), STEPS AHEAD (83), CALIFORNIATOTALITY (81), MONDIAL (80), ROMANTIC THOR (80) and TALENTS AMBITION (80).
With only four meetings left until BMW Hong Kong Derby Day, opportunities for horses further down the order of entry to press their claims in the race of “Once-In-A-Lifetime Glory” are highly-prized ahead of the final field selection.
At Sha Tin this Sunday (9 March), several horses including CAMBRIDGE, MARKWIN, SKY HEART, LO RIDER, BUNDLE AWARD, LIGHT YEARS CHARM, TOP GUN and LIVEANDLETLIVE could boost their chances of earning a place in the BMW Hong Kong Derby by either winning or running a place.
The lucrative HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series has already provided some wonderful racing and I look forward to what transpires over the next two meetings with horses attempting to claim places in the BMW Hong Kong Derby and I wish all aspiring owners, trainers and jockeys the very best of luck.
The Class 1 Kowloon City Handicap is carded as Race 8 at 4.05pm and run over 1200m for prizemoney of HK$3,720,000.
The pace will be good with DROMBEG BANNER (Karis Teetan) likely to lead with WHIZZ KID (Harry Bentley) prominent along with MAGIC CONTROL (Matthew Chadwick) from INVINCIBLE SAGE (Hugh Bowman) and TAJ DRAGON (Brenton Avdulla).
LUCKY WITH YOU (Luke Ferraris) appreciated the drop to handicap conditions when he beat GORGEOUS WIN and MAGIC CONTROL in the TVB Cup over this course and distance on 9 February. LUCKY WITH YOU is a win and place chance again.
INVINCIBLE SAGE has run at Group level for an extended period and last April beat CALIFORNIA SPANGLE and MUGEN to win the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m). He ran well when fourth to KA YING RISING in the Centenary Sprint Cup on 19 January where he finished ahead of LUCKY WITH YOU. INVINCIBLE SAGE disappointed over 1400m last start but back to handicap conditions and 1200m, INVINCIBLE SAGE is a place chance. His chances will be strongly enhanced on a rain-affected surface.
MAGIC CONTROL is a three-time winner down the straight 1000m course but is yet to win over 1200m in Hong Kong. Last start, MAGIC CONTROL was run down over 1200m by LUCKY WITH YOU on 9 February. He was brilliant winning again over 1000m two weeks later from JAMES TAK. MAGIC CONTROL has a drawn widest but will run well and is a place chance.
COPARTNER PRINCE (James Orman) is racing well and is a place chance after a narrow second to SON PAK FU over 1200m at Happy Valley on 26 February.
The Class 2 Carpenter Handicap is carded as Race 10 and will be run over 1800m at 5.10pm and features BMW Hong Kong Derby aspirants CAMBRIDGE, MARKWIN, SKY HEART, BUNDLE AWARD and LO RIDER.
The pace will be good with SKY HEART (Lyle Hewitson) and WINNING DRAGON (Hugh Bowman) sharing the lead. ENCOUNTERED (James Orman) and MONEY CATCHER (Keith Yeung) will settle in the forward division with UNBELIEVABLE (Alexis Badel) also going forward from his wide gate.
BUNDLE AWARD (Ben Thompson) was impressive in beating SKY TRUST over 1400m on 19 January and then started favourite but didn’t have a lot of luck when fifth to SKY HEART over 1600m on 16 February. BUNDLE AWARD has only 115lb and is a win and place chance.
SKY HEART raced outside the leader over 1600m last start when he found the lead early in the straight and fought on bravely to hold off WINNING WING on 16 February. Also carrying only 115lb, SKY HEART is a place chance.
His stablemate LO RIDER (Karis Teetan) ran well last start over 1800m when he just failed to catch STEPS AHEAD in the final strides. STEPS AHEAD ran well in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, finishing fifth to RUBYLOT and LO RIDER is a good chance on that form.
MARKWIN (Harry Bentley) and CAMBRIDGE (Angus Chung) are also among the chances against older horses who are racing well, including WINNING DRAGON who recently finished fourth to VOYAGE BUBBLE in the G1 CITI Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m). WINNING DRAGON looks well placed here.
HELENE FEELING (Luke Ferraris) won the G3 January Cup (1800m) at Happy Valley on 8 January and has been placed over 1650m at two runs since. HELENE FEELING has drawn wide in gate 12, but he is a place chance.
UNBELIEVABLE (Alexis Badel) is an interesting runner who ran fifth in last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby to MASSIVE SOVEREIGN and last raced in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m), finishing third. He returns after a long break but looked good in a recent trial.
MR ASCENDENCY (Declan McDonogh) and C P BRAVE (Brenton Avdulla) are all racing well and have claims.
The Class 3 Tak Ku Ling Handicap (1600m) is carded as Race 11 at 5.45pm and presents an opportunity for TOP GUN, LIGHT YEARS CHARM and LIVEANDLETLIVE to press BMW Hong Kong Derby claims.
LIGHT YEARS CHARM finished brilliantly to easily beat JUNEAU PRIDE over 1400m on 9 February. LIGHT YEARS CHARM won with plenty in reserve and is my win and place selection.
This is a very strong race and a great finale to an exciting card of racing with 10 of the 14 runners having recorded wins at one of their last three starts, so again LIGHT YEARS CHARM, TOP GUN and LIVEANDLETLIVE will certainly enhance BMW Hong Derby selection credentials if they could win.
Comment
