3 minute read

UK trainer Ralph Beckett is confident of another international victory as he brings Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint champion Starlust to Hong Kong for the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

Beckett is already familiar with Sha Tin having been represented twice in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase in 2008 & 2017 by Muhannak and Chemical Charge.

Commenting on Starlust's chances, Beckett said; "The horse has come out of California in good shape. He'll be very well suited by the nature of Sha Tin.

"His best form is around a bend and on a flat track, like at York, Del Mar and Santa Anita, so I'm looking forward to taking him."

However, Beckett is wary of the challenge that awaits him, with local favourite Ka Ying Rising set to oppose in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

Ka Ying Rising won the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) by three-and-a-quarter lengths, smashing the Sha Tin track record in the process.

Beckett described the locally trained favourite as "a monster" adding this opportunity is ideal for Starlust; "If we pass up the opportunity to run in Hong Kong we've got a long time to wait until conditions are on his side again."

However, British-trained horses are yet to win Hong Kong's top sprint prize, with multiple Group One winner Highfield Princess finishing sixth in last year's contest.

But Beckett is uncertain as to why British-trained horses are unsuccessful in this particular race at the International meeting,

"It's difficult to know why British horses haven't succeeded in the race. Hong Kong is the last roll of the dice of the year and perhaps that's got something to do with it. European sprinters haven't been as good as Australian and Hong Kong sprinters down the years."

"I don't think we've been taking the right horses, or it's been at the wrong time."

The Breeders' Cup winner, Starlust, will face local winners like Ka Ying Rising, California Spangle, Invincible Sage and Victor The Winner in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on Sunday 8 December.