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Five Hong Kong horses will line up at Taipa racecourse, Macau, on Saturday for a tilt at the MAC G1 Macau Hong Kong Trophy (Handicap).
This is the second leg of the annual two-race inter-port series. The first leg, the HKG3 Hong Kong Macau Trophy, was held at Sha Tin racecourse on 1 March when Super Lifeline landed the spoils.
Trainer Tony Cruz heads to Macau with his eyes fixed on a second feature race victory within a week. Blazing Speed highlighted the Cruz stable’s good form with last Sunday’s win in the HKG1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, and this weekend it is Zaidan’s turn to carry the banner in the 1500m turf contest.
The six-year-old has a classy profile, having won the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and then finished second in the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) in 2012. Zaidan (132lbs) has made only three starts this term – a six-month lay-off followed September’s seasonal bow – but despite finishing out with the washing last time in the G1 Champions Mile, he had shown that he retains plenty of ability when fourth on his penultimate start in the HKG3 Premier Plate (1800m) at the end of March.
“He has a chance,” said Cruz of his charge, who will be partnered by Andreas Suborics. “His barrier trial was good and I’m happy with him. You can forget his Champions Mile run.”
That 1200m barrier trial on 20 May saw Zaidan travel well enough across Sha Tin’s wet all-weather track. Revved up on the turn for home, Zaidan worked past the front-running Trump but was just edged out by his easy-travelling rival at the post.
“I think the track in Macau will suit him,” said Cruz. “He’s getting older and he has some natural wear and tear in his joints nowadays, so he likes a bit of give in the ground. I’ll be happy if it rains a bit in Macau!”
The Hong Kong quintet also features last year’s victor, the Michael Chang-trained Noble Alpha (119lbs), who will again have the assistance of jockey Olivier Doleuze. The seven-year-old returns to Taipa with the same Hong Kong rating at 92, and, although winless in 10 runs since that success, the Shamardal gelding has maintained a consistent level.
The Dennis Yip-trained Winning Leader (130lbs), the mount of Zac Purton, started this season with a brace of wins over 1400m and 1600m at Sha Tin and was a fine second in the Hong Kong Macau Trophy. Meanwhile, the Ricky Yiu-trained Deep Thinker (122lbs), who will be ridden by Tommy Berry, had Winning Leader three and three-quarter lengths back in 11th when successful in a 1400m Class 2 at Sha Tin on 27 April, and is now on a career-high mark of 95.
The Caspar Fownes-trained My Name Is Bond (119lbs) has scored twice this term, over 1000m (Class 2) and 1200m (Class 3) at Happy Valley, and has not raced beyond 1400m, the distance at which he won the G3 Prix La Rochette as a juvenile in France. Joao Moreira will be in the plate on Saturday.
The 10-runner race also features five Macau contenders: Wonder Mossman (133lbs), Dr Sweet (130lbs), Lucky And Wealthy (122lbs), Just In Time (114lbs) and Luen Yat Forever (114lbs).
