HKIR News : Tracknotes (3) - Rogerson keen on Century Kid/Falvelon formline (11/12/2001)

International trainer Graeme Rogerson is confident his four-year-old gelding Century Kid can be more than competitive in Sunday's Hong Kong Sprint.

'I think both the Australian horses will run very well, ` Rogerson said in reference to his own horse and last year's winner Falvelon after Century Kid worked strongly on the grass at Shatin this morning.

'We know the form around Falvelon is obviously a good measuring stick for this race and the last time the two horses met in a short course sprint, Century Kid was able to beat him,' Rogerson said.

That clash was in the Group 3 T.J.Smith Stakes (1200 metres) at Randwick in April this year. Century Kid won the race with Falvelon finishing 0.4 lengths astern in third place.

'I'm very happy with my horse,' Rogerson said, 'he did all that we wanted him to this morning and he looks terrific.' Century Kid was ridden in his work by race jockey Jim Cassidy who has regularly ridden the horse in Australia.

Remarkably, Century Kid - who boasts six wins from 18 starts - has never raced at Sunday's distance of 1000 metres but Rogerson is unperturbed.

'Don't worry - he can sprint. His form at 1100m and 1200m is very good and he can run some great times too. He flew in the Qantas Cup this year,' Rogerson said. Century Kid won the Group 2 Qantas Cup over 1200m at Eagle Farm in June running a sizzling 1minute 08.1 for the journey.

'I've probably erred in the past by training him to stretch out to a mile but essentially he's a sprinter and that's the path we'll follow with him now. He's got the speed to be very competitive in this race on Sunday,' he said.

Rogerson also noted that the Centaine gelding was particularly effective when fresh and that's the case this weekend as he has not raced since September. Century Kid has had four fresh runs in his career and is yet to finish out of a place.

Cliffhanger and Plenty-Plenty represent Ivan Allan in the Sprint and the trainer believes that both horses can run well - but he is tipping the Japanese challengers to provide the hottest competition of all on Sunday. "Plenty-Plenty ran well last year but he's that bit older now and this is a hot sprint. Still, he's always capable of a big performance on his day. Cliffhanger is that bit younger and he has a better chance, though he needs to be drawn where the speed is. He will need a good break and he will have to travel with them early on. If does that okay he will run a good race," said Allan.

Asked for any horse he was keen on in the four big races, Allan said: "The Japanese horses will be hard to beat in every race. Everybody should keep a very good eye on them"