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My area of expertise. The races are on December 12th. These races are usually run on good or fast ground as it just doesn’t rain in December.
http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/r … 02111.html
Selections for the races as of Nov. 24:
Hong Kong Sprint 1200m
Rocket Man, JJ The Jet Plane, Dalghar, Kingsgate Native, Ortensia
Locals: Sacred Kingdom, Green Birdie, Joy and Fun, Ultra Fantasy, One World, Little Bridge, Lucky Nine, Dim Sum, Let Me FightHong Kong Mile 1600m
Paco Boy, Dream Eater, A Shin Forward (JPN), Beethoven, Royal Bench, Rajsaman, Sahpresa
Locals: Able One, Fellowship, Beauty Flash, Good Ba Ba, Sight Winner, Thumbs Up, Chater WayHong Kong Cup 2000m (the showpiece)
Vision D’Etat, Cirrus Des Aigles, Snow Fairy, Planteur, Stacelita, Reggane, Glass Harmonium, Sri Putra, Summit Surge
Locals: Collection, Super Satin, Irian, Packing Winner, Super Pistachio (ex-Westphalia)Hong Kong Vase 2400m (Europeans usually win this)
Americain, Jaguar Mail (JPN), Jakkalberry (ITA), Mastery, Winchester (USA), Indian Days, Redwood, Crystal Capella, Board Meeting, Scalo (GER), Joshua Tree
Locals: Viva Pataca, Mr Medici, King DancerThere are three trials in which only one international, Rocket Man in the Sprint, will run:
10 furlong Jockey Club Cup: Won by Irian
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/resu … 7&venue=ST
8 furlong Jockey Club Mile: Won by Able One
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/resu … 7&venue=ST
6 furlong Jockey Club Sprint: Won by Rocket Man and One World (dead heat)
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/resu … 8&venue=STSacred Kingdom won last year’s Sprint, Good Ba Ba (now 8 and going downhill) the Mile, Vision D’Etat the Cup, and Daryakana the Vase (over Spanish Moon, Kasbah Bliss, and Cirrus Des Aigles).
Love this meeting – Rocket Man won in Singapore yesterday btw.
Really looking forward to seeing One World again – very unlucky in the sprint last year and only just failed to collar Sacred Kingdom, think he’s been rested this this in mind so here’s hoping
The Cathay Pacific International races will actually be on Sunday 12th December at Sha Tin.
They closed on Friday and nominations will be published soon.
Glad you enjoy them Presto!
The Hong Kong Cup trial over 10f was held Sunday.
Video of the race in Cantonese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWSiru2SHj8
In English
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/resu … 7&venue=STIrian (former German 2000 Guineas winner) won convincingly and is now a major player in the Hong Kong Cup.
Packing Winner ran 2nd. Only a length behind winner Doctor Dino in the 2008 Vase but has never been quite good enough, now an 8yo.
King Dancer finished 3rd. Gerald Mosse thinks the firm ground and relatively sparse grass wasn’t to his liking. Probably headed to the Vase.
Super Satin blew up the last furlong. Last year’s HK Derby winner, he and Lizard’s Desire ran Viva Pataca to a neck in the QEII Cup, where he was hurt by the sedate pace. He will go to the Vase or the Cup.
Collection finished a close 5th, but he got pocketed and scoped badly afterwards. Ran a brave but not-quite-good-enough 2nd to Vision D’Etat in the Cup last year.
Mighty High, formerly trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre, ran 6th. He’s a front running type headed for the Vase; his trainer has a very high opinion of him. He will come on a lot for this.Super Pistachio, the former Westphalia, has yet to recapture last year’s form. This was Carthage’s first run in HK but he bombed the start and overraced badly, he’s the former Behestham. He’ll run in the Mile trial but hasn’t taken to HK well at all.
Local HK Cup runners:
Collection is the champ but Irian and Super Satin aren’t far off him. They all have something to find on Vision D’Etat, who will enjoy the fast ground. Viva Pataca won the QEII, but it was a pace oriented affair. He might still make the frame in the Vase or the Cup.Local HK Vase runners:
There is a stronger local challenge for the Vase this year. Mighty High is still relatively unexposed and King Dancer is a class horse who shouldn’t be far away. Super Pistachio would be a chance if he bounces back to form, and Mr Medici isn’t out of it. Viva Pataca failed last year but his trainer admitted that he probably resented the strong training regiment last year. With his adjustments Viva snuck home in the 10f QEII.I think he has a great shot at the Sprint Trial. Sacred Kingdom blew up in the last furlong last year so he might not be primed for this. But there are a few up-and-comers who will give Rocket Man a real test: Lucky Nine, Let Me Fight, Little Bridge, and Cerise Cherry. The final 3 are untested at this level but some of them may very well measure up.
Rocket Man would’ve won the Golden Shaheen with a better ride and was beaten by Green Birdie in Singapore because the yielding track blunted his finish. But in my opinion Sacred Kingdom probably has him covered. I know it looks like he barely beat One World last year but he definitely idles in front.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dpxcKh0ye0
This is his win after the HK Sprint (in Chinese), he definitely put the brakes on and jockey Brett Prebble mentioned that it is hard to get SK up and going again after he stops. Prebble has wisened up and last race waved the whip at SK to keep him going to the line.I agree. I think RM is getting stronger, expect him to be taken to the front and feel he will be hard to run down. We have a lot of exciting sprinters here in HK, but as you say, untried at this level.
Fantastic news. Snow Fairy going for the Vase or the Cup, and Planteur reportedly to the Cup. I find Planteur’s choice of the 10f Cup over the 12f Vase a bit surprising.
Snow Fairy was scintillating in Japan just recently as most of you probably know. Whatever she targets, it will be exciting. If she goes for the Cup, we’ll see her up against Planteur, Vision D’Etat, and possibly Stacelita; if she opts for the Vase, we’ll see her matching up with Americain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mw73PHKikkRocket Man dead heats with One World in the Sprint trial (the Jockey Club Sprint).
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/resu … 8&venue=ST
(cantonese Youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMEisoxf6Ic
He got over to the rail from the awkward draw to run in 4th. Turning right was still new to him; showed less speed than usual and was caught flat footed in the straight but still let down very well. One World rattled home from well back.
Little Bridge grabbed a no-excuses 3rd a half length away. Let Me Fight was killed by the draw and checked twice but still powered home; sadly he won’t make the big race.
Sacred Kingdom looked the winner at the furlong but blew up, similar to last year’s Trial. He was only three-quarters of a length away and still the one to beat.The Mile trial was given away to Able One who took advantage of a soft lead. Thumbs Up ran a fantastic 2nd with the pace against him while Beauty Flash and Chater Way had their chances though Beauty Flash may improve on that. Good run by Viva Pataca who was held up, and Fellowship ran a shocker.
http://www.hkjc.com/english/racing/resu … 7&venue=ST
(cantonese Youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ6w9h-r4AcThe respect Hong Kong trainers have for Sacred Kingdom:
After SK’s stablemate Ultra Fantasy beat favorite Green Birdie to win Japan’s G1 Sprinters Stakes, Birdie’s trainer Caspar Fownes said, "just imagine, he has another one at home who’s a few lengths better".
And John Moore, who won at least a share of all 3 international trials said after One World’s dead heat "I think we probably got lucky today as Sacred Kingdom had an off day".- Total Posts 17716
Crystal Capella will be one for me to keep on the right side of.
Announced tonight at Happy Valley, see the press release on the link headed "2010 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races – Selected Runners (as at 24/11/2010)" and the one above it:
Interesting that only 5 internationals were invited for the Sprint. Last year they invited a truckload both from Europe and Australia and HK horses made them look silly both in the race and abroad as well. Kinsale King got injured in the last two days and will unfortunately not run.
Paco Boy should really take the Mile on his form. The home straight at a bit over 2f is decent enough. He will need the pace on however.
Frankie Dettori is going to mount french Planteur in the Cup.
I really don’t believe in his chances for the victory even with Dettori. I prefer 2009 titleholder Vision d’État and Snow Fairy, if she’s fully recovered from her last race.Irian good value in teh Cup at 14/1. Was pretty impressive in the trial and shouldnt be double figures.
I thought Americain looked pretty special in Melbourne, and looks a good bet to me.
I also have quite a strong fancy for Stacelita in the Cup – hoping she goes for that. Mordin talked down her performance in the Diane, speedwise, but she won easily, and the write-up suggests her performance was as impressive as Zarkova’s. Still, I believe the draw is important, presumably for both.
Kingsgate Native promised so much, I must have a pound or two e.w. on him in the Sprint.
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