Mr Bogart topples previously unbeaten Pakistan Star

16/10/2016

By Andrew Hawkins

The throngs who flocked to Sha Tin this afternoon, Sunday, 16 October, to see internet sensation Pakistan Star in action were left searching for words after the gelding suffered his first defeat at the hands of Mr Bogart in the Class 2 Woodpecker Handicap (1400m).

Tony Cruz-trained Pakistan Star had won his first two races in breathtaking fashion, showing no gate speed, settling a clear last and storming home to score impressively. As a result, he was sent off a hot 1.4 favourite, with John Moore-trained Mr Bogart the only other horse in single figures.

Jumping from gate 10, Pakistan Star mustered better but still found himself last in the hands of Matthew Chadwick as Kei Chiong set a solid tempo in front on Spicy Sure.

“He was a bit more sensible out of the gates today,” Chadwick said. “He was never really that slow to begin in his other races, but he was lazy early and wanted to do his own thing. Today, he was less lazy and that meant that he was in touch with the field in the early stages. However, they just went so fast up in front – in his other races, they went fast early and then slowed, but Kei was up on speed and setting a hard gallop.”

As they turned for home, Pakistan Star was still last and spotting Spicy Sure a ton of ground, while conversely, Mr Bogart was in second and had the job of taking the field up to the leader. Mr Bogart raced to the lead at the 200m under Chad Schofield, as Pakistan Star made his customary late bid down the outside – but ultimately, it was too late as Moore’s five-year-old crossed the line in 1m 21.09s.

“In Pakistan Star’s other two races, I was travelling well as I entered the straight and cruised up before sprinting well,” Chadwick said. “Today, I was off the bit chasing before straightening, because they were just flying along in front. In the end, he’s made up at least 10 lengths, maybe more.”

The three-year-old’s final 400m sectional on 18 September was 21.44s, the second fastest on record in any race at 1400m at Sha Tin dating back to February, 2008. In a measure of the performance, today’s final 400m was recorded in 21.65s, still the 13th fastest in that same period.

Both Chadwick and Cruz expressed their satisfaction with the run and asserted that the horse can bounce back next time.

“Given the amount of ground he has made up there, I don’t think anyone can be too disappointed in him. He’s still only a three-year-old too,” Chadwick said. “He’ll improve again for that and be hard to beat next time, especially over 1600m.”

“Pakistan Star ran up to expectations, he’s run very well from last, but look at the sectionals,” Cruz added. “He was a long way back. I still have faith, I think Pakistan Star is still a maturing type of horse and he’s definitely improving all the time. And I do think Mr Bogart is a Group class horse too.”

The story surrounding Pakistan Star’s first defeat overshadowed the performance of the winner, who lumped 131 pounds to victory after having to work hard to chase the early leader.

“He’s a serious horse, he is very big and strong and he’s clearly got talent,” Schofield said. “I thought when the barriers came out and I drew the inside that I could beat Pakistan Star, but obviously I would need things to go my way. I was actually worried around the turn because they were going quickly from a long way out and I was right there up on the speed. But to my horse’s credit, when I clicked him up he was there for me, he ran home a very strong 600m and he actually seemed to relish a strong tempo rather than the stop-start races he has been in.”

Moore is now looking at the Class 1 Panasonic Cup (1400m) with Mr Bogart after his gutsy performance today.

“He looks like he’s really improved this season,” Moore said. “The Panasonic Cup looks a logical next target and from there, maybe he could even be a Group horse later on.”

Earlier in the card, reigning champion rider Joao Moreira continued his hot run of form with a four-timer to go with his five victories at Happy Valley last Wednesday night.

Moreira began the day with a bang, taking the first two races on Ricky Yiu’s Cheer Win in the Class 4 Cuckoo Handicap (1000m) and Moore’s Prince Falcon in the Class 5 Hwamei Handicap (1600m), before later adding Healthy Joyful for Danny Shum in the Class 3 Swallow Handicap (1400m) and closing out with Me Tsui-trained Adventurer in the Class 2 Tailorbird Handicap (1000m).

“I am feeling very well at the moment, and everything is falling into place,” Moreira said, in particular noting Adventurer as a horse on the up and making comparisons to an international Group 1 winner.

“Adventurer didn’t surprise me today by winning, but I can say he did surprise me with how easily he won. He just smashed them on pace, he travelled very nicely out in front. If he keeps on doing what he’s doing, this horse is going to go very high in the ratings. He’s very much like Amber Sky, a straight 1000m specialist who just beats his rivals with pace.”

Healthy Joyful was the second leg of a double for Shum, who earlier prepared Green Dispatch to win the Class 3 Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Cup (Handicap) over 1800m.

Green Dispatch, who raced as War Dispatch in France, was third in the Prix du Jockey Club behind New Bay and Highland Reel, but had not found his best form in Hong Kong until today.

“His owner asked me to geld him, and after the operation the horse became more settled in the environment here,” Shum said. “He ran pretty well at his latest outing, it was his first race for me. Nash Rawiller gave me a positive report from trackwork, and I knew with a bit of luck this time he could win today.”

“He’s a one-paced runner, but he does have a big stride so a step up in distance should suit and I think any trip up to 2400m will be no problem for him. Hopefully he can improve further and win more races for us, especially because he had very good European form before coming to Hong Kong.”

Chris So took both the dirt races on the card with Super Man (Brett Prebble) and Team Fortune (Douglas Whyte), while Whyte also won earlier in the day on Plain Blue Banner.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 19 October.