3 minute read

The racing cauldron that is Hong Kong takes centre stage this afternoon with three international group one races set down for decision.

For the first time in the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s history, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Champions Mile and Chairman’s Sprint Prize are being held on the same day, making for an exciting afternoon, showcasing some of best local stars and overseas raiders.

All three races pose different scenarios for punters with the QEII Stakes the most interesting, the race assembling two challengers from Japan as well as local 2000m champion Time Warp and the enigmatic Pakistan Star.

Time Warp looks hard to beat and if successful will become the first horse in history to win the Hong Kong Cup, Hong Kong Gold Cup and QE II Stakes.

The former UK galloper has shown sharp improvement this term and his dominant win in the Hong Kong Cup last December stamped him as the top Timeform rated 2000m galloper in Hong Kong.

However since that display, Time Warp has put in a couple of below par efforts that have race rider Zac Purton scratching his head coming into today’s feature.

However his failure in the Stewards Cup after his HKIR win and the Chairman’s Trophy last start were both over the shorter trip of 1600m and are best overlooked for today.

Time Warp’s pattern in recent starts has been to bounce off those 1600m runs as he did in the HK Gold Cup.

While his last start failure as $3.10 favourite looks poor, the conditions of the race today suit him perfectly.

Time Warp should find the lead easily and rates as the horse to run down.

Japanese gallopers Al Ain and Danburite rate as strong chances, both aiming to emulate wins by fellow Japanese stayers Neorealism last year, Rulership in 2012 and Eishin Preston’s double in 2002/3.

Of the pair, Al Ain would seem to be slightly better suited at 2000m than his Japanese partner Danburite, both gallopers coming through the Osaki Hai over 2000m at Hanshin where Al Ain finished in front of Danburite.

The pair have met four times in Japan but there has never been much between them.

However according to trainer Otonashi, Danburite is going to be ridden closer to the speed this afternoon and in a race where Time Warp appears to get a soft lead, that tactic may bring Danburite right into calculations.

Certainly he has the ratings to be competitive and could give Australian rider Tommy Berry a welcome change of luck in the race that catapulted him to the Hong Kong racing audience steering Designs On Rome to victory in 2014 at his first ride at Sha Tin.

The antics of Pakistan Star are well known, however there is no doubting his ability if in the right frame of mind.

Pakistan Star has raced three times since a spell and all have been sound enough to put him into the frame.

Especially his first up run when a close up fourth to Time Warp in the Hong King Gold Cup, however he was not suited by dropping back to 1600m at his last two runs, both times running home strongly when the race was all but over.

Drawn the rails here, Pakistan Star should travel closer to the lead and it is worth remembering he was unlucky not to beat Neorealism in the 2017 QE II Stakes.

Chairman’s Sprint Prize

The key to this race is the Charlie Appleby-trained Blue Point, a late scratching at the barrier in the Al Quoz Sprint in Meydan on World Cup night where he was to go off as a short priced favourite.

An outstanding sprinting prospect with real sprinting form lines in Europe with wins at Ascot and Newmarket, Blue Point was also a close 4th in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot behind Caravaggio.

Last start, Blue Point just failed to run down prolific 1000m Meydan sprinter Ertijaal and no doubt is better suited by 1200m.

The only query is that he will have to race around a turn for the first time – all his previous 11 runs being on straight courses.

However Appleby is not concerned about it, highlighting that all his work has been around bends in Meydan.

It was also noticeable that at trackwork, Blue Point was being educated to change legs during his early morning workouts.

Dangers look to be Hong Kong Sprint winner Mr Stunning who is now at his peak after an excellent run when resuming in the Sprint Cup when conceding weight all round, Beat The Clock and Japanese sprinting Fine Needle.

Champions Mile

Champion trainers John Moore and John Size look to dominate the Champions Mile with Beauty Generation rating as the horse to beat.

Like Time Warp later on the programme, Beauty Generation will be aiming to join an elite group of winners of this race.

If successful he will join Maurice, Able Friend and Good Ba Ba as the only winners of the two big mile races in Hong Kong in the same season – Hong Kong Mile and Champions Mile.

This term, Beauty Generation has gone to another level winning the G1 Silver Jubilee Cup earlier this year before having a short break then contesting the Chairman’s Trophy over 1600m where luck did not go his way finishing a close up fifth behind Beauty Only.

Significantly Zac Purton who has won 3 of 8 rides on the gelding regains the mount – a move combined with the ace barrier draw should see him get the perfect run.

With a distinct lack of speed on paper, it would not surprise if Purton took up the running and controlled proceedings.

Fellow Australian rider Sam Clipperton win partner Western Express who along with Blizzard and Seasons Bloom loom as the main dangers.

Blizzard is an interesting runner and brings a different form line to the race. Third in this race in 2016, his recent racing has been restricted to sprint trips but after his last start fifth in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen behind Fine Needle at Chukyo in Japan, trainer Phillip Yiu has changed to a longer trip this afternoon.

With the likelihood of a muddling pace, the tactical speed Blizzard possesses may prove to be a potent weapon over the concluding stages. Certainly he looks a great value chance.

The Danny Shum trained-Seasons Bloom looks set for a big run. He comes off a 63 day break after a huge third behind Time Warp and Werther in the Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m and contests group one company for just the fourth time in his career chasing a second win at that level already having the Stewards Cup safely in the locker.

Seasons Bloom has worked well coming into the race and Joao Moreira is certain to give him a perfect ride.

Western Express can mix his form, almost causing an upset in the G1 Hong Kong Mile when narrowly defeated by Beauty Generation. However his form since has not matched that effort but his second to Beauty Only last start in the Chairman’s Trophy does read well for a good showing here, especially with Clipperton getting back into the saddle.

Enjoy the day.