Bad Boy batters his rivals in Sha Tin feature

17/12/2016

By David Morgan

There was an air of “After the Lord Mayor’s show” about Sha Tin racecourse this afternoon (Saturday, 17 December), six days on from the HK$83 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and its record 100,000-plus crowd. But while an earthy Class 2 handicap replaced last weekend’s four Group 1s in the feature slot, there was still plenty to keep the attendant Hong Kong hardcore satisfied.

Bad Boy (133lb) took the vacant spotlight with a scruff-grabbing display in the Lukfook Jewellery Cup Handicap (1000m), for which he returned the 2.5 favourite. Part-owner Donnie Yen, martial artist and movie star, appears to have a Pattern race runner on his hands, with January’s G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Handicap) up next for the four-year-old.

“That was great, he led them a merry dance – the blinkers have made a big difference. He’ll now run in the Group 3 on January 8,” trainer John Moore said after Bad Boy had battered his 11 rivals with a gate-to-wire display of brute speed. “He’ll go up maybe eight pounds for that, which will put him in at the bottom of the handicap – poor Sam Clipperton (winning rider) will have to start sitting in the sauna now! The plan is to run Not Listenin’tome in that race, too.

“This horse has just repeated what he’s done before, running 55.9 seconds today – he’s shown us before that he can do that. He got the gun gate (12), he’s got good gate speed and he was able to dictate the race. The blinkers just focused him, I think it’s the secret to really getting him switched on. It was just a tiny tweak that was required.”

Bad Boy, a winner of two (1200m and 1250m) from three in Australia pre-import, made it three from eight Hong Kong-side in drawing two and three-quarter lengths clear of runner-up My Little Friend (131lb) in a time of 55.93s, a smidgen inside standard. And despite failing at his first attempt at Sha Tin’s 1200m last start, Moore does not see Bad Boy as a limited straight track runner.

“As long as the 1000-metre races come up we’ll target them but if the occasion arises we’ll definitely go 1200 again with him. The other day when he tried it he got trapped wide, over-raced and just folded. But the way he’s progressing, he’ll have to participate in 1200-metre Group races in the future. This is just a nice progression to the Group 3 next start.”

Winning rider Clipperton said: “That was very impressive. It felt like he was going easier than the time he ran. I think the blinkers have been a big switch on for the horse. He’s always had ability and he’s just taken a few runs to get ready this time in but that was good.”

Most Beautiful (117lb) ran home third, a further two and three-quarter lengths back, while the 2.7 second favourite Adventurer (128lb) faded to fifth after attempting to race with the winner. 

Whyte and Ferraris snare doubles

Douglas Whyte started a month-long suspension at end-of-play today and the 13-time Hong Kong champion jockey made sure he signed off for an extended Christmas holiday on a positive note. The Durban Demon has enjoyed a solid season so far and an early brace to open the meeting took his tally for the campaign to 19.

Healthy Luck (125lb) in race two, the Lukfook Jewellery Love is Beauty Collection Handicap (1000m), followed Soccer Brave’s (119lb) win in the opener, and the double clincher confirmed the promise of some smart track work with a career debut score.

Manfred Man’s charge broke smartly from gate 14 and tracked the leader, Peace Combination (117lb), along the stands’ side rail. When Whyte shifted the three-year-old inwards and asked for an effort inside the final 200m, the response was pleasing; Healthy Luck, a 6.2 chance, lengthened his stride, collared the leader close home and finished three quarters of a length to the good in a time of 57.10s. 

Man was quick to note Whyte’s involvement in the youngster’s development. The rider had taken the reins eight times in track gallops and barrier trials since mid-October.

“Douglas has worked with him for a long time,” the trainer said, “he’s been involved in giving him a good prep for this. Douglas asked to ride the horse and he has helped with his education – the horse is still green so there should be improvement to come.”

In the Class 5 opener, the Lukfook Jewellery Wedding Collection Handicap (1650m) on the all-weather track, Whyte bustled 16/1 shot Soccer Brave from gate five, took the lead into the first turn, snared the rail and settled back in a pace-stalking position. And when the South African pushed his mount between rivals at the turn into the stretch, Soccer Brave responded with a game run to draw three and three-quarter lengths clear of the field.

That was the first leg of a double, too, for Whyte’s countryman, trainer David Ferraris, who teamed up with five-pound apprentice Kei Chiong to snare the fifth, the Class 4 Lukfook Jewellery PT Bridal Collection Handicap (1600m) with 8/1 bottom-weight Triumphant Light (111lb).

“He was lame behind for a long time, the whole of last season and we’ve just been able to get him right,” Ferraris said after the six-year-old had opened his Hong Kong account at the 19th attempt.

“I looked at his New Zealand form and he led at a mile, so as his rating was really low, we decided to put Kei on with her claim and let him lead. That’s what worked. The sectionals they were going, I thought they were going ok in the race for her (Chiong) to finish well, she wasn’t going too fast.

“It’s been a good day – things are going well so far this season.”

Hong Kong racing resumes at Happy Valley on Thursday, 22 December.