Connections of Hong Kong’s top three rated Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) runners – Designs On Rome, Military Attack and Blazing Speed – remain upbeat about their Sunday prospects despite some reservations about their immediate lead-up.
Jockey Neil Callan is looking forward to riding last year’s G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) winner Blazing Speed who comes off a last start sixth, beaten two lengths behind Harbour Master, in the HKG3 Premier Plate (1800m) on 29 March – a performance which was better than it appears according to the rider.
“That last run has a bit more merit than it seems. He was trapped deep and giving weight to some smart and up and coming horses. He trialled well the other day, he’s in good form and he can’t look any better,” Callan said.
“I’m pleased he’s there to take his chance. You always want to be part of these big races and not watching from the side. He can run well with a touch of luck. There’s always a mix of ingredients in these big races….luck, tempo, the draw, who gets the best run.”
Zac Purton also reiterated his enthusiasm for 2013 APQEII Cup winner Military Attack despite the Caspar Fownes-trained gelding’s February withdrawal from the Centenary Vase – his original scheduled return run ahead of the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup on 1 March, in which he was fourth to Designs On Rome.
“He’s well,” Purton said, “possibly being the fresher horse will be to his advantage. Designs On Rome’s had the trip to Dubai and the run at 2400 (metres) and that may have taken the edge off him. Military Attack’s come on for his last run and his trial. It was the best he’s trialled for a long time.”
Designs On Rome’s trainer John Moore concedes that last year’s APQEII Cup winner was ‘jaded’ after Dubai but is confident the four-time Sha Tin 2000m winner is improving all the time.
“He is improving after his trip to Dubai,” Moore said, “any horse that goes away is going to come back with what I call a chemical imbalance – he is going to be jaded. For that reason, I don’t think anybody can expect that Designs On Rome is going to be out there in peak condition on Sunday. But that was something we were always taking into consideration with this race in Dubai.
“But every day I’m looking at this horse and he is improving. He’s putting on bodyweight, his coat’s got a greet sheen to it. He is still going to go out there and be a force to be reckoned with, even though he might not be 100%, because I know every day he is improving in himself.
“He’ll gallop Thursday. When Joao (Moreira) got off him on Saturday, he got off and said ‘this horse is not as flat as I would have expected’. That was his comment. But you know, he did everything right in Dubai; he ate up, he worked well and now he’s back here he’s feeling that little bit better each day.”
The top two rated international runners and return Hong Kong visitors Criterion and Red Cadeaux led the four overseas trained horses on to the all-weather track this morning and, as was the case yesterday, neither was asked to do much more than stretch their legs. Both look in great order.
Roy McCormick, assistant to trainer David Hayes, said of Criterion: “He’s really well. His weight’s good and he’s much more relaxed than he was when we came here in December. He’s settled in very well.”
Robin Trevor-Jones, attending Ed Dunlop’s ‘frequent flyer’ Red Cadeaux, was similarly happy with the nine-year-old’s appearance and demeanour. “All good,” Trevor-Jones said.
Japanese contender Staphanos and France’s Smoking Sun, first time visitors to Hong Kong, also came out on the all-weather track for an easy canter to loosen the limbs with the former ridden by his assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara.
Yohei Fujino, assistant to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, said of Staphanos: “Our flight was delayed for six hours, but we found out the news before my horse left for the airport from the quarantine stable at Ritto Training Centre, so it did not cause any trouble. Once he got in the air cargo, he was settled. After he arrived here, he seemed to be a little bit nervous - being by himself with the new surroundings at the quarantine stable here. But his appetite is increasing and I feel better for that. He will gallop on the turf track tomorrow.”
Fujiwara’s colt looms as a rising star. The son of Japanese superstar Deep Impact started off his autumn campaign with a fourth-place effort in the G2 St. Lite Kinen (2200m) in September before dropping back in trip to the 1600m of the G3 Fuji Stakes on 25 October.
In that race, he showed a brilliant late-kick to charge down the stretch and claim the first graded stakes victory of his career. After a four-month layoff, he returned in the G2 Nakayama Kinen (1800m) on 1 March – a race which featured three Japanese Classic winners.
Staphanos, with Andrasch Starke on board, tracked the race favorite and the 2014 Japanese 2,000 Guineas winner Isla Bonita and sustained a strong stretch run, but could not reach the winner Nuovo Record (Japanese Oaks winner), who denied the 2013 Japanese 2,000 Guineas winner Logotype by a neck at the finish line. Staphanos finished 1.5 lengths further back in third.
Starke said of that performance after the Nakayama Kinen: “The widest gate was not ideal but he travelled nicely even from the barrier on the softer track. I was watching Isla Bonita through the race and wanted to follow up when he made ground, but Isla Bonita moved slower than I thought, which made my horse start moving a bit late. Otherwise my horse might finished better than third. But I am very hopeful for him in Hong Kong. He has lots of talent.”
Team Fujiwara is plotting its first overseas glory after previous forays to Hong Kong with Eishin Flash and Archimedes. Yuichi Fukunaga, who won last December’s International Jockeys’ Championship, will take the ride on Sunday.
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Photo 1:
Criterion
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Photo 2:
Red Cadeaux
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Photo 3:
Smoking Sun
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Photo 4:
Staphanos
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