Rich Tapestry had a final pipe-opener at Santa Anita racetrack on Thursday morning (30 October) and Hong Kong’s first ever Breeders’ Cup contender did his job well as he quickened through the last 400m in 25.3s.
Saturday’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (1200m) hope looked a picture and that reflected in his work as he wound it up from the 1200m under regular work rider Vincent Sit, gradually building up speed to close out the final 200m on the bridle in 12.1s.
“He had a good breeze last Saturday so today I just gave him a 400m blow-out, to just open up his wind, and he came back with everything okay. I asked Vincent just to gallop the final 400m in about 13 seconds and 12 seconds for each 200m. He went easily and I’m happy,” said trainer Michael Chang.
“He’s ready,” he added. “He’s settled in really well here so I can’t see why he would run badly. I think he will run a really good race on Saturday. Now we’ll keep him nice and quiet, and in the next 48 hours we pray to the gods to make sure there are no mistakes!”
Rich Tapestry, already a course and distance winner thanks to his win in the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on 4 October – the first victory by a Hong Kong horse in the US – faces a top-class field of 14. Among his rivals are last year’s winner Secret Circle, third last start behind Rich Tapestry after a lay-off, as well as recent G1 Vosburgh Stakes hero Private Zone, two-time G1 winner Palace and the speedy Fast Anna.
“It’s a big field, so anything can happen in the race,” commented Chang. “They will go very hard from the start. The track will be fast and I think Fast Anna is the horse that will break very fast and lead. I’d like to see my horse sit right behind the tempo; similar tactics to last time, with the jockey sitting behind the pace, then try to finish and catch them before the line. I do expect that he has a little bit more improvement from his last run.”
Chang, who has been in some demand from the world’s media this week, had another busy morning as he fielded journalists’ questions and took centre stage at a Breeders’ Cup press conference.
“I’m so happy to be the first Hong Kong trainer to bring a horse to the Breeders’ Cup,” he told the gathered media. “We’ve done everything we can, he’s as good as he was in Dubai and I hope the gods bless us this time.”
Rich Tapestry won the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal (1200m - Tapeta) in Dubai early this year before being collared close home to finish second in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m - Tapeta) at the Dubai World Cup Meeting in March. His historic G1 win at Santa Anita last time was a first for both the Holy Roman Emperor gelding and his trainer.
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Photo 1:
Rich Tapestry works on the Santa Anita dirt track on Thursday morning ahead of Saturday��s Breeders�� Cup Sprint.
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