Peniaphobia’s breakthrough win in last month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) gave him bragging rights in the Hong Kong speed ranks and on Sunday (31 January) the Tony Cruz-trained gelding will attempt to reinforce his top dog status against the best of his domestic rivals in the HKG1 Centenary Sprint Cup.
This year’s edition is the first at 1200m since the 1993/1994 season, Peniaphobia having taken the prize 12 months ago down Sha Tin’s straight 1000m track, and that after a close second to Aerovelocity in the 2014 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. This time he is looking to notch the double after achieving an impressive all-the-way course and distance win last month, despite breaking widest of all from gate 14.
“I hope this time we can get a better draw than 14, although it didn’t hinder him last time!” said Cruz, who is pleased with the bay’s preparation for Sunday. “I’m very happy with him, his barrier trial was good and he’s working well.”
Peniaphobia was first past the post in a star-packed 1000m turf trial at Sha Tin on 19 January, in which jockey Joao Moreira had him under a hold to clock a time of 57.90s.
“He’s a more mature type of horse these days and he knows the game well now - his character is much better than ever before and he’s improved through all the time I’ve had him,” said Cruz.
After Peniaphobia’s Centenary Sprint Cup win last year, Cruz pointed his charge at the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) at Meydan, Dubai. The bay ran home a brave second under Douglas Whyte, but this time Cruz has his eyes on something closer at hand.
“We’ll have to look at whether or not we go to Dubai, there’s a doubt about going there at this stage because the Jockey Club has the Chairman’s Sprint Prize here on Champions Mile day. The prize money is really good, so I think we’ll probably focus on that this time around instead of taking him to Dubai,” said the trainer.
The Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), upgraded to G1 for the first time this year, has moved position in the calendar to May in order to fill the void left by the discontinuation of Singapore’s G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint. The race carries a purse of HK$10 million and is part of the Global Sprint Challenge, as well as being the final leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.
In the meantime, Peniaphobia is set to face Aerovelocity on Sunday. Paul O’Sullivan’s stable star missed out on the chance to defend his G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint crown last month after connections opted to back off following an incident of a heart irregularity. The reigning Champion Sprinter pleased jockey Zac Purton in a recent barrier trial but is likely to improve for the outing.
Also among the 13 high-class entries are Gold-Fun, a closing half-length second to Peniaphobia last time, LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint third Not Listenin’tome, former champ Lucky Nine, G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m, dirt) runner-up Super Jockey, past G1 Al Quoz Sprint hero and Centenary Sprint Cup victor Amber Sky, Strathmore, Secret Sham, Charles The Great, Domineer, Frederick Engels and I’m In Charge.
The Centenary Sprint Cup is the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series. The second leg is the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m at Sha Tin on Sunday 28 February and the series concludes with the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
