Werther is hunting another Group 1 and trainer John Moore is confident Hong Kong’s latest star has what it takes to snare the spoils in Sunday’s HK$10 million Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m), the season’s final major and the third leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown.
The four-year-old is on a hat-trick after exciting wins in the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and last month’s G1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m); the former a nip and tuck nail-biter and the latter a four and a half-length demolition of an international field.
On Sunday, Werther steps up to the mile and half realm for the first time since racing to a smart second in the G1 South Australian Derby (2500m) a little more than a year ago. Moore believes the extended distance will favour the Tavistock gelding.
“Definitely!” was the handler’s affirmative response when asked if Werther might be better at a mile and a half. “I think the further he goes the better he goes because the way he relaxed with Hugh (Bowman) in the QEII the other day gave a good indication that he could go further than 2400 metres.”
Werther earned an international rating of 124 for his AP QEII Cup victory, in which he slammed the likes of Japan’s 10-furlong champion Lovely Day as well as the re-opposing local big guns, the Caspar Fownes-trained Military Attack, the Tony Cruz-trained Blazing Speed and his own stablemate Designs On Rome. Moore is pleased with Werther’s form and wellbeing since then.
“Werther hasn’t put a step wrong since his QEII win,” he said. “His regular riding boy reported that he’s still in top form and the surface doesn’t matter - he goes on whatever. He’s versatile and he’d be the pick of mine.”
The Champions & Chater Cup has produced its share of upset results. Two years ago Designs On Rome failed to add the race to an AP QEII Cup triumph, while last year Blazing Speed was unable to pull off the double. The most recent horses to have completed the QEII/Champions & Chater brace in the same season are the champions of yesteryear, Viva Pataca (2007) and Vengeance Of Rain (2005), the latter having also taken the Derby that term. River Verdon (1992), Quicken Away (1990) and Top Grade (1988) achieved the double in the days before the QEII was opened to international contestants.
“I think this will be a year when the form works out,” said Moore. “I don't see an upset with this horse. He’s as genuine as the day is long - he’s a very easy horse to train. He’s maintained his fitness right through, so I don't see any hiccups. He’ll be very hard to beat.”
Werther heads an eight-strong field. Also slated to vie for the prize are Hong Kong Derby runner-up Victory Magic and Helene Happy Star, also from the Moore stable, as well as the Paul O’Sullivan-trained Giovanni Canaletto and the Richard Gibson-trained Ambitious Champion.
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Photo 1:
Werther bids to emulate Vengeance Of Rain by winning the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup after landing the BMW Hong Kong Derby and Audemars Piguet QEII Cup in the same season.
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