Three winners of the Hong Kong Horse of the Year title are set to lock horns in an epic renewal of the HKG2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (Handicap) over a mile at Sha Tin racecourse on Sunday, 26 October.
Reigning champion Designs On Rome will take on the horse he deposed, Military Attack, while the former dual Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon is slated to confront his two successors in what will be the Pins gelding’s first race in 18 months. Designs On Rome and Military Attack will share top-weight of 133lbs with yet another star of the Hong Kong scene, Gold-Fun - last year’s race winner and the current Champion Miler, no less - while Ambitious Dragon is allotted 129lbs.
“Ambitious Dragon hasn’t raced for a long time but he’s working well - he’s done everything right,” said the eight-year-old’s trainer, Tony Millard, who has nursed the 2012 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile victor back to fitness from a near-fore tendon injury.
The former champion stretched out to “win” a turf barrier trial over 1000m on 7 October under Sunday’s pilot Gerald Mosse.
“His trial was OK, you just have to take into account that he’s been out for a long time so I hope he gives us a nice run,” Millard continued. “You have to respect the opposition, they’re good horses, there are some nice young horses in there, and they’re fitter. He’s as well as I can have him right now.”
Military Attack will have his first start since switching to the Caspar Fownes stable from John Moore’s yard. The six-year-old reunited with champion jockey Zac Purton for an all-weather track barrier trial over 1200m at Sha Tin on 14 October and closed off well to pass the post in front.
“The mile’s not really his distance but he felt pretty sharp in his trial the other day,” said Purton. “He seemed to bounce out of the gate with a bit of purpose and if he can do that on the weekend and get the right speed to suit him, I think he’ll run a pretty good race. I don’t think he’ll be very far away.
“He feels pretty good and in a good frame of mind. He’s been having a bit of a play in the mornings from what I’ve seen. When I was on him in the trial the other day he was carrying on a little bit and it’s a good sign - when he’s like that he usually races pretty well,” added the in-from Australian, whose record on the horse stands at three wins from seven rides, including the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) and HKG1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m).
The race would not look out of place at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on the second Sunday in December. The field of 14 also features two-time LONGINES Hong Kong Cup victor California Memory (126lbs), the 2013 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase winner Dominant (128lbs), and last season’s HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and HKG1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) hero Blazing Speed (129lbs).
Such is the race’s depth that Dibayani (124lbs), third to Designs On Rome in the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and second behind Blazing Speed in the Champions & Chater Cup, is among what might be considered a second tier of talented contenders: last season’s G2 LONGINES Jockey Club Cup winner Endowing (125lbs) is another, as are Helene Spirit (127lbs), Packing Whiz (121lbs), Flagship Shine (122lbs), Rainbow Chic (119lbs) and Rewarding Hero (115lbs).
The race carries increased prize money of HK$3.875 million, up HK$375,000 on last year, as does the day’s other feature contest, the HKG2 Premier Bowl (1200m), which has attracted a high-class field that includes last year’s victor Sterling City, subsequent winner of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, as well as the top-class miler Able Friend.
Past 10 winners of the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy
