The 2015 edition of the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) is being dubbed one of the most open in years and so there was plenty of interest this morning, Thursday, 12 March when connections of the 14 high-class contenders gathered at the Sha Tin Parade Ring for what could prove a crucial barrier draw ceremony.
Trainer John Size has three leading candidates, among them Luger, the top-rated horse in this year’s exciting Derby field. The talented Choisir gelding, untried beyond a mile, will break from gate 12 under Zac Purton in Sunday’s (15 March) HK$18 million feature.
“Luger will have to get going from there,” said Size. “He won’t be able to be too relaxed, he’ll have to go forward and show some sort of pace to cross those horses but I think he’s capable.”
The handler’s other two Derby candidates, Contentment and last month’s HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Thunder Fantasy, drew gate 11 and gate three respectively.
“Contentment will probably lead,” stated Size. “We can’t really go too slowly because that doesn’t suit him so he will be striding along at a comfortable gallop for everyone. Thunder Fantasy won’t be far behind him – I think it will be a race run to suit everybody.”
Redkirk Warrior, the mount of Joao Moreira, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when second in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. Trainer Chris So is pleased with his charge’s progress since then and could not hide his delight at the result of the draw.
“He’s drawn six and I’m happy, the whole team is very happy,” said the second season handler, for whom Redkirk Warrior will be a first Derby runner. “He can jump and get good cover, which is important for him at 2000m. I think he is more relaxed now; he should be easier to handle than the last couple of times. He is proven at 2000m, that’s not a worry, the important thing this year is the draw and I’m happy.”
Dynamism has made rapid strides in three starts since the turn of the year and trainer David Ferraris, a Hong Kong Derby winner with Vengeance Of Rain 10 years ago, is confident the German import will be a serious force from gate one.
“That’s a good draw, particularly for this race because he is getting a bit keen now the fitter he has got, and from one we can just tuck him in, cover him up nicely five or six behind the leader - perfect.”
Tony Cruz has long advanced the merits of Beauty Only as a possible Derby hero but the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile winner is not the trainer’s only hope heading into Sunday. Anticipation, yet to win in four Hong Kong starts, has made good progress since running third behind Contentment in an 1800m Class 2 on 1 March and could be peaking at just the right time. The Irish import will jump from widest of all in gate 14, while Beauty Only has drawn gate five.
“I wanted him to have an outside draw, but not quite that wide,” said Cruz of Anticipation. “One thing that is good is that we’ve got Luger in 12 and Contentment in 11, they are the fast ones and I’m going to send Anticipation right up with them. He doesn’t break that fast and if he had drawn right in the middle of the pack he would get shuffled back; but from that gate he can go with Luger and Contentment and lay up with them.
“Beauty Only will be right smack in behind,” he continued. “I expect he will be running about fifth, sixth, seventh from that draw. He needs a firm track, he will run the 2000m and he is the horse that has the acceleration. He has been very good in his track work. I am happy with both of them, especially Anticipation, he is coming on very well now. It is an open race and the horse that runs out the distance best will be the winner.”
Trainer Richard Gibson’s smart trio all drew well with Giant Treasure in gate seven, Got Fly in gate four and Obliterator in gate two.
The John Moore-trained Helene Happy Star will break from gate nine, the Tony Millard-trained Golden Sleep is drawn in gate 13, the Benno Yung-trained Romantic Touch is berthed in gate 10 and the Caspar Fownes-trained Gun Pit is drawn in gate eight.
BMW Hong Kong Derby 2015 Race Card
|
Photo 1:
From left: Newman Tsang, Managing Director - Hong Kong & Macau, BMW Concessionaires (HK) Ltd & Sime Darby Motor Group (HK) Limited; Michael Lee, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, officiate at the BMW Hong Kong Derby 2015 barrier draw ceremony at the parade ring of Sha Tin racecourse today.
|
Photo 2:
Newman Tsang, Managing Director - Hong Kong & Macau, BMW Concessionaires (HK) Ltd & Sime Darby Motor Group (HK) Limited; and Michael Lee, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, jointly draw the first horse, Dynamism, at the ceremony.
|
|
Photo 3:
Club��s former chairman and owner Wong Chung Hin draws Gate 1 for his Derby runner Dynamism.
|
Photo 4:
Owner Andy Chiu of Thunder Fantasy draws Gate 3.
|
|
Photo 5:
Trainer John Size draws Gate 12 for his runner Luger.
|
Photo 6:
Owner Eleanor Kwok of Beauty Only draws Gate 5.
|
|
Photo 7:
Owner Pan Sutong draws Gate 7 for his runner Giant Treasure.
|
Photo 8:
Officiating guests and horse connections toast to the success of the BMW Hong Kong Derby 2015.
|
|
Photo 9:
Photo 9, 10, 11:
Trainers and jockeys show interest in the BMW sedan cars on display in the parade ring of Sha Tin racecourse today.
|
Photo 10
|
|
Photo 11
|
Photo 12:
Photo 12, 13, 14:
Various guests and horse connections attend the barrier draw ceremony today.
|
|
Photo 13
|
Photo 14
|
