A high-class field of 13 will line up for the HKG3 Premier Plate (Handicap) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 29 March, and trainer John Moore is hoping that either Harbour Master or Rewarding Hero will welcome him back from Dubai with a victory in the 1800m contest.
Moore is currently at Meydan for Designs On Rome’s attempt at G1 Dubai Sheema Classic glory on Saturday night.
“There’s a question mark about Rewarding Hero over that trip of ground but Harbour Master is at the top of his game and we’re expecting a big run at the weights,” said Moore.
Harbour Master, the mount of Joao Moreira – also in Dubai – was a solid sixth last start in the G1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and will carry 116lb in Sunday’s feature. Rewarding Hero (123lb) will also bring G1 form to the party having finished third in January’s G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and sixth in this month’s G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m). The Premier Plate will be the six-year-old’s first start at beyond a mile.
“He’ll be ridden very quietly to get the trip, switched off back in the field and hoping he might get home,” said Moore.
The Tony Cruz-trained Blazing Speed, winner of two legs of last season’s Hong Kong Triple Crown and this term’s G2 LONGINES Jockey Club Cup (2000m), tops the weights on 133lb. Cruz, overseeing Peniaphobia in Dubai this week, will also have Helene Super Star (116lb) in the line-up, and the G1 veteran California Memory (123lb), who will be ridden by Andreas Suborics.
The field also features G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase third Khaya (116lb), Endowing (122lb), Pleasure Gains (121lb), Bubble Chic (114lb), Flame Hero (113lb), Packing Llaregyb (113lb), Santa Fe Sun (113lb) and Mr Gnocchi (113lb).
Past winners of Premier Plate (since 2006)
