Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), whose previous high-water mark in Hong Kong was an upset of Horse of the Year Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the Champions and Chater Cup over 2400 meters last May, came charging late to down the best local middle-distance horses and stamp himself one of the ones to beat in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup in three weeks' time with a victory in the G2 Jockey Club Cup.
Winner of two of his four European starts for James Fanshawe, Blazing Speed was sixth, beaten under two lengths by Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Hong Kong Cup last December, but atoned for that defeat with a 9-1 upset of the Stewards' Cup back at 1600 meters last January. Fourth to Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the Hong Kong Gold Cup over this course and distance Feb. 23, he was a well-beaten 10th in the G1 Dubai Duty Free S. at Meydan Mar. 29 and returned home to be sixth to Variety Club (SAf) (Var) in the G1 Champions Mile May 4 before stretching back out in the C&C Cup. He resumed from his summer's vacation with a ninth behind Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) in the 1400-meters Celebration Cup H. and was exiting a sneaky-good fourth to Military Attack in the Sha Tin Trophy H. Oct. 26.
Getting back out to the metric mile and a quarter for this, Blazing Speed was a little wide out of the stretch for the first time, but Neil Callan was able to drop down into the two path on the turn and settled his mount in mid-division as Sunny Ying (GB) (Haafhd {GB}) dictated a decent pace. Second favorite Military Attack was handy enough in third, while reigning Horse of the Year Designs on Rome was third-last after breaking a half-step slow. Positions were mostly unchanged until Joao Moreira began to get after Designs on Rome at the 600-meter mark and the complexion of the race began to change. Sunny Ying was the longshot leader turning for home, but Zac Purton had Military Attack ready to pounce from third while Blazing Speed came out five wide to challenge and Designs on Rome was deeper still. Military Attack was roused to the lead at the furlong grounds and responded well as the wire loomed, but Blazing Speed kept to his task and put his head down on the wire first. Endowing, last year's winner, was a close third from California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}) and the fast-finishing Designs on Rome.
“Since the first time I got on him he just seems to relax for me,” Callan explained. “I don't know if that's the good training of Tony or my hands. He just seems to click for me and relax. “He's now won a [domestic] Group 1 over a mile, 2400 meters and now a Group 2 at 2000 meters, so he's versatile. The most important thing is he's got to get a spot, relax and find his rhythm and then at the end he'll give you a kick.”
Victorious trainer Tony Cruz said the winner and stablemate California Memory would press on to the Hong Kong Cup, a race won by the latter in 2011 and 2012.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT JOCKEY CLUB CUP-G2, HK$3,875,000 (US$499,690), Sha Tin, 11-23, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:01.71, gd/fm.
1–@BLAZING SPEED (GB), 128, g, 5, by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
1st Dam: Leukippids (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Teslemi, by Ogygian
3rd Dam: Martha Queen, by Nijinsky II
(45,000gns RNA wnlg '09 TATDEF; 45,000gns RNA yrl '10 TATOCT; 41,000gns yrl '10 TATDEC). O-Fentons Racing Syndicate; B-J Sankey; T-Tony Cruz; J-Neil Callan; HK$2,208,750. Lifetime Record: 26-8-4-1, HK$16,502,010. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Military Attack (Ire), 128, g, 6, Oratorio (Ire)–Almaaseh (Ire), by Dancing Brave. (€40,000 yrl '09 GOFMIL). O-Canny Leung Chi Shan; B-P E Banahan; T-Caspar Fownes; HK$852,500.
3–Endowing (Ire), 123, g, 5, Danehill Dancer (Ire)–Brazilian Samba (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. (62,000gns yrl '10 TATOCT). O-Ada Wong Yin Man; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd; T-John Size; HK$445,625.
Margins: HD, NO, NK. Odds: 7-1, 2-1, 9-1.
Also Ran: California Memory, Designs on Rome (Ire), Bubble Chic (Fr), Willie Cazals (Ire), Mr Gnocchi (Aus), Helene Super Star, Sunny Ying (GB), Dominant (Ire), Travel Brand (GB).
Click for the HKJC.com chart and PPs.VIDEO. Click for the free Brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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