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Sterling City aims to retain title in HKG3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup

30/12/2014

Sterling City will attempt to kick-start his season on the first day of 2015 when he is set to take on nine smart rivals at Sha Tin in an intriguing renewal of the HKG3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup (Handicap).

The New Year’s Day feature often attracts top-class contenders and the roll of recent winners includes G1-calibre heroes such as Little Bridge (2011), Egyptian Ra (2010), Joy And Fun (2009), Floral Pegasus (2007) and Scintillation (2006).

And Sterling City can be included in that list, too. John Moore’s charge won the 2014 edition en route to a famous top-flight triumph but, unlike 12 months ago, this time around the gelding heads into the 1400m contest off the back of an uninspiring run of form. Sterling City has failed to make the frame in five starts since winning the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m - Tapeta) at Meydan in March, and was last seen finishing a disappointing 10th behind Aerovelocity in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

Sterling City had shown some of his old spark in his final piece of work before his most recent failure and he appeared in fine heart once again when working under Umberto Rispoli at Sha Tin this morning (Tuesday, 30 December). The new partnership went 800m on the all-weather track in 50.2s (28.0s, 22.2s) in company with Frederick Engels. Rispoli will pilot the two-time course and distance winner on Thursday as regular pilot Joao Moreira serves a suspension.

“His work was good this morning and he looks fit,” said Rispoli. “If Sterling City comes back to his best form of last season he has a very good chance, and I think the 1400m is probably best for him.”

Sterling City has dropped a point in the ratings to 121 since his last start but that is still 3lb higher than his winning mark last year and he faces no easy task under top-weight of 133lb. Among his talented opponents are trainer Dennis Yip’s last start winner All You Wish (120lb), the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Flame (122lb), six-time course and distance winner Super Lifeline (118lb) from the Tony Millard stable, and the John Size-trained pair of Tour De Force (121lb) and Wonderful Moments (113lb).

The G1 winner must also cross swords with four of his stablemates as Moore will pitch into the fray Flagship Shine (128lb), Rewarding Hero (122lb), Secret Sham (122lb) and Frederick Engels (126lb). The last-named has eased from a peak rating of 119 to 114, his lowest mark in almost two years, and showed his wellbeing last time out when a running-on fourth in a 1200m Class 1 at Happy Valley on 17 December.

Frederick Engels accompanied Sterling City in his work this morning and the soon-to-be six-year-old, third in the 2013 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, was sending positive vibes to big-race rider Karis Teetan. 

“Frederick Engels was doing it all very nicely this morning. He worked with Sterling City and he led the gallop but he worked very well. He felt good and stretched nicely to the line,” said Teetan.

“This is the first time I’ll ride him in a race but I’ve been watching his replays and his last run was promising.  If he can settle like that and give me the same feel as this morning, I think he can have a good chance. He’s fit and well and maybe he’s finding a bit of form now - feeling good inside - it felt that way this morning.”

All You Wish, third in this race in 2014 and 2lb worse off with Sterling City on that running for a length and a quarter, returned to winning ways in a mile Class 1 at Sha Tin on 30 November. The 2012/2013 Champion Griffin, a four-time course and distance winner, now finds himself on a career-high mark but could have more to offer with only 13 lifetime starts under his belt.

Meanwhile, Flagship Shine and Secret Sham, also-rans in G1 company at the LONGINES HKIR last time, will be looking to find their feet again in this lesser grade.

Thursday’s action commences at 12.30pm with the Yi Tung Shan Handicap over 1800m. The Chinese Club Challenge Cup (Handicap) is race nine on the card and is due off at 4.35pm.

 

Past 10 winners of the Chinese Club Challenge Cup

Year

Winning Horse

Trainer

Jockey

Winning Odds

Draw

Age

Weight Carried (lbs)

Rating

2014

Sterling City

John Moore

Douglas Whyte

2.8F

1

5

128

118

2013

Helene Spirit

Caspar Fownes

Zac Purton

4.1

2

6

121

   110

2012

Aashiq

Paul O’Sullivan

Jeff Lloyd

21

8

6

113

101

2011

Little Bridge

Danny Shum

Zac Purton

4.1

6

4

120

108

2010

Egyptian Ra

Tony Cruz

Matthew Chadwick

2.4F

7

8

128

130

2009

Joy And Fun

Derek Cruz

Weichong Marwing

8.7

9

5

128

113

2008

Pocket Money

John Size

Felix Coetzee

8.3

10

6

116

106

2007

Floral Pegasus

Tony Cruz

Gerald Mosse

5.4

14

4

121

115

2006

Scintillation

Danny Shum

Gerald Mosse

3.8F

1

5

131

120

2005

High Intelligent

John Size

Shane Dye

9.7

9

4

122

110

 

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