HK Sprint Rematch in Chairman’s Sprint Prize

Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), who led home a 1-2 finish for Hong Kong in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 14, renew their acquaintances in this afternoon’s Chairman’s Sprint Prize over the metric six furlongs at Sha Tin Racecourse, with each looking ahead at the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 28. 

First-up winner of the Premier Bowl H. over the course and distance Oct. 26, Aerovelocity encountered all sorts of trouble behind the weakening Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and finished last behind wide-trip Peniaphobia in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 23. Leaving nothing to chance last time on international day, Zac Purton sent Aerovelocity to the front and led past every pole to turn the tables by a neck. Peniaphobia has the benefit of one start since, a gutsy success in the Centenary Sprint Cup going the straight 1000 meters Jan. 25, and the duo collides here this afternoon with very little between them. 

With Douglas Whyte sticking with Peniaphobia, trainer Tony Cruz has tabbed the visiting Christophe Soumillon for the ride on Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}), who tries this distance for the first time in his 21-race career. Runner-up to Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) in the Nov. 23 G2 Jockey Club Mile and in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 14, the flashy chestnut was most recently sixth to his archrival in the G1 Stewards’ Cup Jan. 19. 

The Chairman’s Sprint Prize marks the return to action of Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal), who was forced to abort an Australian campaign after coming down with a throat infection. Today’s trip is obviously on the short side, and the 7-year-old will certainly improve with the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup Mar. 15 and the G1 Champions’ Mile May 3 objectives down the road.