Packing Llaregyb is in fine form heading into Sunday’s (8 November) HKG3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (Handicap) according to trainer Andreas Schutz, but the handler is under no illusions as to the weight of the task facing his stable star, who is aiming for back-to-back wins in the historic contest.
Viva Macau (2007 & 2008) is the only horse in at least 35 years to have won the race twice and that was before the contest was upgraded to HKG3 status in 2011. Packing Llaregyb is one of 11 entries for the race, first contested in 1846 and the centerpiece of Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day, Hong Kong’s very own “Ladies’ Day”.
“Packing Llaregyb’s going pretty good,” said Schutz ahead of Sunday’s 1800-metre test. “He has had the one race to warm him up a bit and he has had a couple of trials. I gave him a very strong gallop last Thursday, a good gallop yesterday (2 November) and he’s looking to have one more on Thursday, weather permitting, so he’s as fit as I can get him.”
Last year Packing Llaregyb took his place in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse field off a rating of 95, under a feather-weight 113lb. Twelve months on and the talented Dylan Thomas five-year-old has risen to a mark of 113 and will shoulder 131lb.
“It’s not an easy race for him,” said Schutz. “Last year he won by a short-head with a light weight on his back and an outstanding ride from (Mirco) Demuro from a decent barrier. This time we go into the same race and we carry 131lb, so that is a big difference. And whether he will get a similar kind of run in the race is a question.”
Packing Llaregyb warmed up for this year’s Ladies’ Purse with a solid ninth-place finish in last month’s HKG3 Celebration Cup (Handicap) over 1400m at Sha Tin. The bay’s body-weight was recorded at 1131lb for that first-up run for the season, 5lb more than his previous high of 1126lb registered ahead of his Hong Kong debut back in December, 2013 and 19lb above last year’s Ladies’ Purse winning weight.
“At this moment, he still appears to be a little bit heavier than he was last year,” observed Schutz. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but the jockey came back from his gallop and said he really feels good. Both of us had big smiles on our faces after that gallop. I hope I have him where I want him at this point in time.”
Chad Schofield was the rider beaming after Packing Llaregyb’s smart gallop on 29 October - his mount had clocked 1m 18.4s (28.2, 26.4, 23.8) for 1200m on the all-weather track. The young South African will be in the plate at the weekend for what Schutz hopes will be another step towards the big-time.
“He is certainly an improved horse compared to this time last year but he also has to deliver,” said the German handler. “We have big plans for him and he is not at his very peak for this race. I hope we can see the best of him on international day (13 December) or even later in the season. I’m sure that he’s capable of at least placing in a Group 1 race here, if not winning. He was beaten less than a neck for second place when he was fifth in the (G1) QEII Cup over 2000 metres last season, and he didn’t get the best luck in that race.
“I hope he will take another step forward and then we have to look at all the options. His ideal trip would be somewhere between 1800m and 2000m. I can see him run a big race on Sunday but whether he can win off that big weight or only take a minor placing at this time of the season, we will have to see.”
A high-class entry for the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse also features the Richard Gibson-trained Got Fly and the Tony Cruz-trained Romantic Touch, second and third to Luger in last season’s HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). Last season’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase third Khaya is also engaged, as is the likely top-weight Harbour Master, as well as Flame Hero, Kabayan, Bubble Chic, Ensuring, Fantastic Kaka and Top Act.
