Schutz planning Ladies�� Purse snatch with low-weight Llaregyb

07/11/2014

A smart field of 14 will head to post for the historic HKG3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (Handicap) over 1800m at Sha Tin on Sunday, 9 November and Andreas Schutz is hopeful that Packing Llaregyb (113lbs) can make the step from Class 2 to Pattern grade.

The trainer has saddled the exciting four-year-old to four wins from eight starts in Hong Kong, including a recent success in a hot 1600m contest at Sha Tin on 26 October. On that occasion, Packing Llaregyb overhauled the talented Beauty Flame to win by a nose, with a clutch of re-opposing rivals among the also-rans.

“It was always the long term plan to get him up in the ratings and get him into this race,” said Schutz. “Now he’s qualified I can’t see any reason why not to give it a go. We can always come back to Class 2 1600m again, or if necessary 1800m, but there’s an opportunity for him to run a decent race. He’s very low in the weights and we’re very lucky to get a decent jockey who can ride that weight.”

Mirco Demuro will partner the 95-rated Dylan Thomas gelding for this first attempt at a trip beyond a mile.

“I hope he gets a bit of cover in the race and then the 1800m should be no problem,” said Schutz. “He’s settled nicely in his races recently but he’s obviously better if he does have some cover. We hope for a consistent pace to put him somewhere that gives us every option to go either forward if there is no pace or go back if there is pace on, and then take it from there.”

Packing Llaregyb won two races in England by a combined distance of six lengths, but so far a half-length verdict is his longest margin of victory in Hong Kong. Schutz is not expecting to see too many run-away wins from his charge, who holds entries in two races at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 14 December, the Cup and the Mile.

“I can see him develop into a Group 3 horse here for the time being,” he stated. “He’s been very honest. He’s won his races here all very closely, but that’s the type of horse he is. You never see him win easy - even in his track work you can see him against a Class 5 horse in his gallops and he will go just as well as the Class 5 horse. If you give him a Class 2 horse as his opponent he will be just as good as the Class 2 horse, so he just copes with the sort of quality of horse that he’s running with. I hope he can take that step up in class for this race.”

Joao Moreira, with 23 wins on the board so far this term, leads the Jockeys’ Championship by two from reigning champion Zac Purton. The Brazilian will be aiming to increase that lead and notch another feature race success aboard Khaya (119lbs), a dual course and distance winner.

Moreira partnered John Size’s charge to a first-up win over a mile at Sha Tin on 1 October, but the pair was slowly away last time before running home well to claim sixth in the 1600m contest won by Packing Llaregyb.

“This horse is a little bit difficult - the way he behaves inside the gate makes it hard for himself and his jockey,” said Moreira. “He’s the type of horse, if he gets in there and stays still, even if he’s not standing properly, he will jump quickly, but the other day he was moving around, laying on the gate, and when the gates opened he missed the start, which obviously was a problem for him in that race.

“He ran super though,” he added. “And he still got held up in the straight - he was going to finish a little bit closer, in my opinion. If he brings his best form to the race and jumps well, then he will definitely be competitive.”

With 133lbs on his back, the Caspar Fownes-trained Rainbow Chic heads the weights for the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse, a race first staged in 1846. David Hall sends out Bubble Chic (130lbs), winner of the HKG3 Premier Plate at the course and distance last season, while the Tony Cruz-trained Willie Cazals (122lbs) continues on his path towards the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December.

Cruz also has Helene Super Star (113lbs), winner of the 2013 G2 UAE Derby (1900m). The four-year-old returns to turf after a disappointing first start on the Sha Tin dirt last time.

“It seems to be a positive coming back to the turf track,” said jockey Matthew Chadwick. “The horse is very fit and well. He’s drawn a bit wide in 11 but we’ll just have to see what we want to do with him and work it from there.”

Mr Gnocchi (114lbs), fourth in last season’s HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) for trainer Danny Shum, was fourth to Packing Llaregyb last start and is 6lbs better off for a length and a half.

Trainer John Moore has won four of the past seven renewals and has four contenders engaged this time: Same World (128lbs), Kabayan (118lbs), Sunny Ying (118lbs) and Ashkiyr (113lbs).

Dennis Yip saddles Winning Leader (119lbs) and Travel Brand (113lbs), while Sean Woods relies on Free Judgement (113lbs).

The Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (Race 7 - 4.05pm) is the feature event on Sunday’s 10-race card, which commences at 1pm with the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1200m)

Past 10 winners of Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse

• Previously a Class 1 contest, the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse has been run as a HKG3 event since 2011.