Satisfaction for most at AP QEII Cup barrier draw

21/04/2016

The leading protagonists for Sunday’s HK$20 million G1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup expressed satisfaction, on the whole, after this afternoon’s barrier draw for the 2000-metre showcase.

Japan’s star turn Lovely Day drew tight against the inside rail in gate one, a berth that satisfied the dual G1 winner’s trainer Yasutoshi Ikee.

“As I walked the track along the inside this morning, the condition of the turf seemed to be good, so I wanted to draw from one to four,” he said.

Last year’s winner, Blazing Speed, will break from gate three and trainer Tony Cruz described that as “Perfect!” adding, “I’m very happy; gate three is perfect for him to be sitting just off the leaders.”

Another with the “perfect” draw for their charge is David Hayes, whose crack mare Rising Romance will break from gate four.

“Four's great, the perfect draw,” said the Australian handler who saddled Criterion to finish third in last year’s renewal. “She can be cruising in the first four or five while others are jostling for a position.”

And John Moore was also content in the belief that he has the “perfect” gate for at least one of his trio after Werther drew five. 

“Five is a perfect gate, it’s spot-on,” he said. “He’ll jump, he'll get there with Hugh Bowman and he’ll be right there on the speed with the favourite inside him.”

The trainer’s Designs On Rome, winner of the AP QEII Cup in 2014 will break from gate two, while Helene Happy Star drew wide in gate 12 of 13.

“Designs On Rome will go back, that’s how he runs, and that will put Werther one place in, probably with Lovely Day on his inner. Designs On Rome will go back last four and Tommy will get to the outside and be stoking him up at the usual place before the corner,” said Moore.

“Helene Happy Star, the gate is of no consequence because, if it’s wet, as forecast, he’ll be going forward,” he continued. “If it’s wet on the day, that’s what he’ll be doing, so let’s just wait and see what Mother Nature delivers and then make a game plan. If it’s not wet we’ll have to have a closer look at the run patterns of the others, but we know Helene Happy Star can go on and take up the running, that’s how he raced in England and he’s useful in that role. He drew 11 in the Gold Cup and went back and did finish really well, though.”

Ireland’s Highland Reel gave trainer Aidan O’Brien a first Hong Kong winner when successful in the G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at the course in December, going forward from gate nine, and racing prominently. The four-year-old will bid to land another lucrative Sha Tin prize from gate six this time.

 “We're happy enough with that, no problem: tactics-wise, I'll leave that to Aidan (O'Brien) and Ryan (Moore),” said assistant trainer Pat Keating.

Nuovo Record was runner-up to A Shin Hikari in December’s G1 Hong Kong Cup at the course and distance when  drawn three. This time the top-class mare will start from gate seven.

Trainer Makoto Saito said: “The inside draws are said to have an advantage, but from the draw we have we can watch horses on our inside and our outside, which will be good for us.”

The third Japanese contender, the Noriyuki Hori-trained Satono Crown, drew gate eight.

“I hoped not to draw the outside gate, so gate eight will be ok,” said Tomohiro Takahashi, assistant trainer. 

Meanwhile, Mathew de Kock, representing his father, Mike de Kock, was fine with a wider gate, the Douglas Whyte-partnered Ertijaal having drawn 11.

“We’ll leave it up to Dougie, he knows the track so well,” said de Kock. “It depends on how he breaks and the pace of the race. Dougie’s going to make the decision in-running. The advantage is that the horse is extremely versatile, he can lead or he can do it from behind, so we’ll leave it Dougie.”

The Caspar Fownes-trained Military Attack, victorious in 2013, drew gate nine, while the Cruz-trained Helene Super Star drew widest of all in 13 and the outsider of the field, the Tony Millard-trained Horse Of Fortune, drew gate 10.