Four of Hong Kong’s five contenders for the Macau Hong Kong Trophy drew gates seven to 10 – the four widest berths – at the event’s barrier draw today (13 April) but trainers Tony Millard and Ricky Yiu are not concerned ahead of Sunday’s (17 April) Macau Group One contest.
The Millard-trained Super Lifeline is a regular runner in the two-leg inter-port series. For the past three seasons the Churchill Downs gelding has taken part in the HKG3 Hong Kong Macau Trophy, winning the 2014 edition and then finishing fourth and third respectively in 2015 and 2016. Last year Super Lifeline also ran a creditable fourth in the Macau Hong Kong Trophy at Taipa, from the plum gate 1.
Super Lifeline will start from gate seven this time but Millard is unfazed: “Last year the horse drew gate one, but as the quicker horses were drawn his outside, he was soon cut by those speedy runners and was trapped inside after the start. In the end it didn’t work out for him,” he said.
“This time I am glad to see most of the speedy Macau runners were drawn inside and after jumping from gate seven my horse can stay where he feels comfortable. Things seem to be better than last year. I am not worried about the expected wet track as my horse is a versatile type.”
Ricky Yiu also expressed confidence after his Great Spirit drew gate nine in the 1500m event. The Tagula gelding will be ridden by Derek Leung in Sunday’s race.
“This gate will allow more racing room for my horse,” Yiu said. “He has shown further improvement this season and is flexible tactics-wise. I expect he will run a very good race this Sunday.”
The other three Hong Kong challengers heading to Macau are the Caspar Fownes-trained Divine Calling (Gate 10), and from the Dennis Yip stable, All You Wish (Gate 8) and last year’s Macau Hong Kong Trophy victor Gurus Dream (Gate 5). The field of 10 also features five Macau contenders: Hong Kong Macau Trophy runner-up The Alfonso (Gate 1), Best Of Luck (Gate 2), Gold Alloy (Gate 3), River Bobo (Gate 4) and Lucky And Wealthy (Gate 6).
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Photo 1:
Anthony Kelly (right), Executive Director, Racing Business and Operations of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Thomas Li (left), Executive Director & Chief Executive of the Macau Jockey Club, officiate the 2016 Macau Hong Kong Trophy barrier draw ceremony today.
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Photo 2:
Trainer Tony Millard draws Gate 7 for his Macau Hong Kong Trophy runner Super Lifeline.
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Photo 3:
Owner Lok Yuet Kwan draws Gate 9 for his horse Great Spirit.
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Photo 4:
Anthony Kelly, Executive Director, Racing Business and Operations of the Hong Kong Jockey Club; Thomas Li, Executive Director & Chief Executive of the Macau Jockey Club; Directors and Officials of MJC; guests and connections of runners in Sunday��s Macau Hong Kong Trophy, pose for a group photo at the ceremony.
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