Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (Int'l G1) - 2000M Turf
World Series Racing Championship - 2nd Leg
Sunday 21 April 2002 - Sha Tin
(HK$ 14 Million/US$ 1.8 Million)
Form comments for newly selected horses
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With Anticipation (USA) gr h 1995
Relaunch (USA) - Fran's Valentine (USA) (Saros (GB))
Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard
Owner: Augustin Stable
Current International Rating: 120 |
| With Anticipation was America's leading stayer on turf last year
thanks to Grade 1 successes over 2200m and 2400m. His win in the Man
o' War Stakes (Gr.1-2200m) at Belmont Park last September from international
stars Silvano and Ela Athena followed up victory in the Grade 1 Sword
Dancer Invitational Handicap over 2400m on good going. Prior to these
wins, he had crossed the wire first in the United Nations Handicap
(Gr.1-2200m), but was disqualified and placed second for interference.
He tried to make all in the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr.1-2400m) but finished
in seventh place and was hampered at a critical stage of the Japan
Cup (Gr.1-2400m) before passing the post in ninth position. Began
the current campaign with a fast-finishing ? length second in a 1000m
Allowance Race despite running wide off the Gulfstream Park home turn. |
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Lethals Lady (GB) b f 1998
Rudimentary (USA) - Madiyla (GB) (Darshaan (GB))
Trainer: Robert Collet
Owner: Ecurie Vallin
Current International Rating: 117 |
| Smart French-trained filly who, despite only two career wins registered
(one in a Listed Race in France), came within a ? length of winning
the French 1000 Guineas (Gr.1-1600m) last year, finishing 3rd. She
thereafter competed in Group 1 and Group 2 events in France and England
with 4th place the best outcome. In November she shipped to California
for the Matriarch Stakes (Gr.1-1800m) for fillies and mares and found
only Starine 2? lengths too good. On March 1 Lethals Lady contested
the valuable Singapore Classic (Gr.3-1800m) and again had to settle
for second best, as Palace Line beat her by 2? lengths. Last time
out she was a close fifth behind Bedawin and ?l behind fellow French
challenger Okawango in the Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr.3-1600m). Has yet
race over 2000m but is effective on any surface. |
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Okawango (USA) b c 1998
Kingmambo (USA) - Krissante (USA) (Kris (GB))
Trainer: Christiane Head
Owner: Wertheimer Brothers
Current International Rating: 115 |
| Confirmed himself a top class juvenile with victory in the Group
1 Grand Criterium (1600m) in addition to two other wins at two including
the Prix la Rochette (Gr.3-1600m). Okawango drew a blank last year
although he finished a close fourth in both the French 2000 Guineas
(Gr.1-1600m - beaten 2 lengths but finished 1? lengths ahead of subsequent
dual Group 1 winner Black Minnaloushe) and the French Derby (Gr.1-2400m
- beaten 1 length but finishing ahead of subsequent Classic winner
and Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr.1-2400m) runner-up Milan.) Training problems
have kept him off the track from last June until this week when he
made an encouraging return in the Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr.3-1600m) finishing
1? lengths second to Bedawin. |
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Indigenous (IRE) br g 1993
Marju (IRE) - Sea Port (IRE) (Averof (IRE))
Trainer: Ivan Allan
Owner: Mr & Mrs Pang Yuen-hing
Current International Rating: 109 |
| Former Horse of the Year in Hong Kong and very reliable international
campaigner, but is now nine and is not the force of old. Amazingly,
this is his sixth straight attempt to win this race - he finished
third to Silvano last year, fourth in 1998 and 2000, second in 1999
and was unplaced in 1997. Is without a win since March 1999 though
it should be said that he has frequently found himself conceding lumps
of weight to his rivals over distances short of ideal. Ran well to
finish seventh in the Japan Cup (Gr.1-2400m) in November and followed
this up with a good third in the Hong Kong Vase, 6? lengths behind
Stay Gold. Uncharacteristically finished down the field in the Chairman's
Trophy (HKGr.2-1600m) last time out. |
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Rainbow And Gold (USA) ch g 1997
Gulch (USA) - Weekend Storm (USA) (Storm Bird (FR))
Trainer: Brian P C Kan
Owner: Hui Chun-fui
Current International Rating: 102 |
| Raced as Garcia Marquez in Ireland where his only win was a maiden
although he was smart enough on his debut to be beaten just a length
and a half by dual Derby and Arc winner Sinndar. Took him a while
to get the hang of things in Hong Kong but has since blossomed into
a very useful stayer with the potential to go right to the top of
that category. Had no trouble winning the Queen Mother's Cup (HKGr.2-2400m)
last June and left some below-par efforts behind this season when
he narrowly won the Centenary Vase (HKGr.3-2000m) on February 2 before
finishing sixth in the Hong Kong Gold Cup (HKGr.1-2000m) later that
month. |
