It was our pleasure to host special guests from Bordeaux on our final French-themed night at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Zac Purton produced a vintage ride in the featured Sauternes Cup, making a daring move from the rear on Perfect To Play, while Joao Moreira sealed a four timer with an equally thrilling win from way back on Waldorf.
Both jockeys are in peak form with full books of rides on Sunday and Zac, having broken Joao’s record of six Hong Kong G1’s in a season, is now poised to surpass his single-season prize money record of HK$207,249,728.
Zac needs 11 more winners to become just the second Hong Kong rider after Douglas Whyte to partner 1,000 winners, while Joao needs just 10 more to reach 800.
However, the superstars of Europe and Japan will also be making news this weekend as we have some world-class simulcast racing from England, Japan and France.
Aidan O’Brien is seeking a record-equalling seventh success in Britain’s most famous Classic and saddles seven of 13 runners for Saturday’s Epsom Derby in a race where 10 of the field are sons of Derby winners with six by the mighty Galileo.
Sovereign and Circus Maximus look set to go forward with Humanitarian and Telecaster close up. Broome and Anthony Van Dyck are likely to stalk from midfield draws while Ryan Moore will probably employ patient tactics on the inexperienced Sir Dragonet from stall 13. The pace is unlikely to be too strong but Epsom is a very demanding track and any potential Derby winner must have a rare blend of speed, stamina and agility.
Sir Dragonet was very impressive in winning his trial at Chester in runaway fashion. It will be interesting to see how he handles much quicker ground but stablemates Broome and Anthony Van Dyck are proven on a fast surface.
Broome can race a little lazily but has finished very powerfully to win two trials in Ireland and stepping up to 2400m under Aidan’s 20-year-old son Donnacha will suit him extremely well. He looks a win and place chance. Telecaster has a tricky inside draw but can also go very well along with Bangkok, who has a good turn of foot and the valuable assistance of Silvestre de Sousa.
We will also be simulcasting the Yasuda Kinen from Tokyo and the Prix du Jockey Club from Chantilly on Sunday and both races feature some exceptional talents. The Yasuda Kinen is always a fantastic race and this year it features the star filly Almond Eye moving back to 1600m for the first time in over a year after a record-breaking Japan Cup win and an impressive victory in Dubai.
She faces strong competition from Danon Premium and Indy Champ, while the French 2000 Guineas winner Persian King is the headline acts as he bids to give Andre Fabre his fifth Prix du Jockey Club win on Sunday night.
Back on home soil, Sunday’s G3 Lion Rock Trophy at one mile features four last-start winners in what shapes up as a very interesting contest. Mission Tycoon will show his usual speed along with Ka Ying Star to ensure a good pace. Good Standing will be close up along with Simply Brilliant and Champion’s Way. The others will do their running from the back.
Champion’s Way had his perfect record snapped in his last start when he finished a close second to stablemate Red Warrior over course and distance. After a run of outside gates, he once again draws inside and will get an ideal trip from just off the pace. He drops 14 pounds with the step up in class and this should make the difference. He is a win and place chance.
Good Standing turned in his best effort to date when winning the Hong Kong Macau Trophy in his last start over 1400m. His sire Artie Schiller was a top miler and he should handle the step up in trip in his current form. Citron Spirit has been freshened up for this and his recent trials suggests that he has maintained his good form. He is a place chance along with pace setter Mission Tycoon.
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