Fields Set for Richest-Ever HK International Races

by Alan Carasso

A total of 49 horses representing England, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Australia and of course the home team was entered Thursday for Sunday’s richest-ever renewal of the Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Racecourse. This year’s series offers purse money of HK$83 million (US$10.7 million), a whopping increase of 15.2% over last year’s HK$72 million. And the quality of horseflesh matches. 

The richest–and final–of the four-race series is the HK$25-million G1 Hong Kong Cup, and the globetrotting Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) will try to get over the hump in his fifth appearance in the race, a number which would be even higher barring a withdrawal on the eve of the HKIR in 2012. It will be his sixth trip to Hong Kong overall, having finished a close fifth in the G1 Hong Kong Vase as a 3-year-old back in 2009. The popular bay has not slowed down this year at age eight, with three Group 1 successes and drew well in gate four as he tries to improve on his third-place effort from 2013. 

“Draw 4 is perfect for us,” commented trainer Corine Barande-Barbe. “We should get away nicely from there and find a good spot. We’re very happy with that,” she said. Assistant trainer Jean-Jacques Poincelet was even more exuberant. With a smile, he quipped, “It’s as if they gave away a place on the podium.” 

The two most recent Horses of the Year in Hong Kong will have solid claims in the 2000-meter feature. Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) was favored at 17-10 in last year’s Cup, but got far back and he could finish no better than fourth to Akeed Mofeed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Trained then by John Moore, the 6-year-old is now under the care of Caspar Fownes and exits a head defeat at the hands of Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 23. After drawing gate nine in 2013, Military Attack and Zac Purton will depart the eight hole this time around. Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is the reigning Hong Kong champ and makes his HKIR debut Sunday. Winner of the Hong Kong Derby this past March and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup the following month, he is winless in five subsequent tries, but has shined in the lead-up to the Cup. 

“He’ll be at his peak on the weekend and he’s already shown that he’s right up there among the best horses in the world. I’m pleased with all of my horses leading into Sunday,” said trainer John Moore, who has seven runners across the HKIR.

The old guard is represented by the 8-year-old California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}), victorious in the Cup in 2011 and 2012, but missing from a three-peat attempt last year owing to an injury. But the flashy gray gelding has retained his zest for racing and carries the confidence of trainer Tony Cruz, despite a wide alley from gate 11. 

“I believe California Memory still has a great chance and I’m very happy with him,” the one-time champion Hong Kong jockey explained. “He likes to come from behind so we’ll be patient with him from this draw.”

Mile Smiles Despite Luckless Draw…
 As has been widely documented, the HK$23-million G1 Hong Kong Mile–the world’s richest turf race at the distance–has been dominated for the last eight years by locally based horses, and that record stands a very good chance of lasting through this weekend as well. 

Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) looms the shortest-priced favorite on the program off a dominating victory in the G2 Jockey Club Mile when reported to be short of peak fitness Nov. 23. In no way would it be accurate to say that by drawing widest in a field of 11 against some very capable competition, his chances were enhanced. But connections, who were also represented by 2011 Mile hero Able One (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), come into the race with high expectations. 

“It’s a not an issue,” trainer John Moore said. “[Jockey] Joao [Moreira] will still be looking for some cover and you’d rather draw a touch further in, but he’s such a versatile horse it shouldn’t be a problem. Hopefully there’s some speed up front and he can slot in. If not, so be it. I can assure you we will still be going in with very high hopes.” 

Three of the last four winners of the Mile have come from double-digit draws, including last year’s hero Glorious Days (Aus) (Hussonet), who overcame post 13. Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), who has been under an injury cloud this week, took care of things from the 11 hole in 2012, and both those previous winners, along with the presence of 2013 runner-up Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}), give the locals a chance to sweep the top three placings for the fifth time since 2005. 

That year marked the last that a foreign horse took down the prize, and Fiero (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will break from the rail in an attempt to follow in the hoofprints of Hat Trick (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). 

“I understand it is always very difficult to beat the locals in the Hong Kong Mile, but we come here this year to break the drought,” trainer Hideaka Fujiwara said.

Anyone’s Guess in the Sprint…
The G1 Hong Kong Sprint has seen the single largest uptick in purse money, with a 23.3% increase from HK$15 million to HK$18.5 million. For the first time in three years, a horse with a name something other than Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) will have his picture taken following the race. The question is: which one? 

Perhaps it’ll be Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), who finished closest to the Japanese raider 12 months ago at overlaid odds, but who figures a fraction of the 76-1 on offer last year with Group 1 successes this season in the G1 King’s Stand S. and G1 Nunthorpe S. In any event, if Sole Power doesn’t come through on Sunday, trainer Eddie Lynam won’t be blaming it on gate five. 

“Happy with that draw. I can’t use the draw as an excuse. I’ll have to think of another one now,” the conditioner admitted. 

Will it be Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}), who looks to become the first Australian-based winner of the Sprint since Falvelon (Aus) won back-to-back in 2000 and 2001? The four-time Group 1 winner was dead lame as late as Tuesday, but galloped sound over the Sha Tin dirt track Thursday morning, then drew barrier eight. 

“We know the way he runs, he’s not the fastest horse out of the gates, but his first 50 meters, once he musters, he gets going at a very high cruising speed,” trainer Robert Heathcote offered. “There’s some speed inside of us, but Buffering has the speed to cross. I expect to see us up there in the first couple whatever happens.” 

Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the 2011 Sprint hero, drew nicely in four, but the main local chances are drawn just to the inside of Buffering. Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), the G2 Jockey Club Sprint winner, will try to become the first 3-year-old to win the Sprint from gate six, while Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), who was a troubled 13th in the JC Sprint, will be the wiseguy pick of the program from the seven hole. 

“I’m happy with that gate. He should be able to get a nice run from there,” trainer Paul O’Sullivan said of Aerovelocity. “I’d rather have drawn seven than one–Buffering will go forward and he’s a good one to follow.”

Last Two Winners Face Upstarts in Vase…
Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), winner of the 2012 G1 Hong Kong Vase and most recently runner-up for a remarkable third time in four years in the G1 Melbourne Cup, and Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}), who upset The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) at odds of 12-1 last year, head of 12 for this renewal of the 2400-meter heat. 

Red Cadeaux, owned by former HKJC executive Ronald Arculli, has yet to win in five starts during this 8-year-old campaign, but his Flemington run was full of merit, as he finished in front of 20 of his 21 rivals. 

Dominant, ridden to victory last year by Zac Purton, has ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira in the irons this time and would appear to have plenty to find on his current form. That said, his final piece of trackwork this week has some thinking he can reproduce something similar to his 2013 effort. 

Red Cadeaux landed the same post eight from which he won two years back, while Dominant will leave from the two. 

Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farm has yet to crack the winner’s circle at the HKIR, but as the highest-rated galloper at the meeting, G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) will have solid claims to change that. He will break from stall four, while fellow Juddmonte color-bearer Snow Sky (GB) (Nayef) will be a few doors down in six. 

There is a bit of a buzz about Empoli (Ger) (Halling), who will try to become the second German-bred to win at the HKIR following the victory of Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) in 1999 when the race was contested as a Group 2. The last-out winner–after overcoming stretch interference–of the G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne Sept. 28, will have to work out a trip from post 12. 

“It’s not so good, the draw, but the main thing for him is that we get a decent pace,” commented his trainer Peter Schiergen.

Click here for the fields. Click for the HKJC.com form guide.