Joao Moreira will attempt to win Sunday's HKG1 Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin for a second year in a row, but not aboard the horse many would have expected.
The Brazilian will partner Bundle Of Joy in Hong Kong's pre-eminent 1000m dash rather than last year's winner Amber Sky, on whom the current runaway jockeys' premiership leader landed this prize 12 months ago en route to a famous triumph in Dubai's G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m).
But after the Ricky Yiu-trained Amber Sky missed 14 days of track work due to a minor setback around Christmas time, doubts emerged as to the five-year-old bullet's participation in Sunday's first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.
"Connections decided to run Amber Sky at the last minute and earlier than that Ricky Yiu was okay if I took another ride, because it's only a small field and with not many horses in the field you might be left with no ride. If Amber Sky brings his best, he is going to be hard to beat, I have great respect for him, but I do have faith in Bundle Of Joy as well," said the rider.
The David Hall-trained Bundle Of Joy defeated Moreira and Amber Sky in the HKG3 National Day Cup at the course and distance back in October. The chestnut drew three and a quarter lengths clear of the first-up Amber Sky on that occasion but was in receipt of 19lb in that handicap. Sunday's race is a level weights affair.
Bundle Of Joy put two lengths on the field in the National Day Cup and was in receipt of only 1lb from runner-up Peniaphobia, who was second last start in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m). That re-opposing rival turned the tables emphatically when victorious in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint between times, with Bundle Of Joy over three lengths 10th. But that November contest was over 1200m and the Hall trainee has notched five of his six Hong Kong wins at the minimum, with three of those coming down Sha Tin's straight course.
"He has a good chance," said Moreira. "Obviously we have to respect Peniaphobia too, he's probably going to be the horse to beat, but if any horse has a chance to beat him it's my horse. I have faith in him, we just need a little bit of luck from the barrier draw and be able to have a normal run without interference or whatever."
Moreira partnered the Magic Albert five-year-old in a turf gallop on Monday (19 January) in company with No Money No Talk and covered 800m in 46.6s (24.4, 22.2).
"I've ridden him three times in his track work," he said. "He's doing well and he's the kind of horse that you can feel, each track work he goes out for, that he improves a little bit. His work on Monday was very good and I was very happy with him. It was a very nice workout."
The field will also feature another horse associated with Moreira. The rider conjured a late surge to win the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m - Tapeta) at Meydan last March on Sterling City and the John Moore-trained gelding will line up on Sunday under Neil Callan.
"He's been a little bit disappointing this season since he won in Dubai last March," said Callan of his mount, who has shown little in five starts this term. "The 1000m is probably a little bit on the short side for him but if he does come to his best then he would hold a good place chance."
Eagle Regiment, successful in the Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup in 2012 and 2013, will take his chance, while the field will also include Frederick Engels, Smart Volatility and You Read My Mind. Hong Kong's Champion Sprinter Lucky Nine is also among the entries.
The Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup is the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series and carries increased prize money of HK$6.6 million. The second leg, the HKG1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m), also worth HK$6.6 million takes place on 15 February. The third and final leg, on Sunday 15 March, is the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m, which will be staged as an international Group 1 contest for the first time and is worth a race record HK$10 million.
A bonus of HK$5 million will be paid to the owner of any horse that wins all three legs of the Hong Kong Speed Series.
