Hong Kong Looks for Al Quoz Repeat

Hong Kong is comparatively small in the racing world, but has supplied winners on the international stage with increasing frequency over the last decade. The G1 Al Quoz Sprint has been the property of the special administrative region twice in the last five runnings of the race, first when the evergreen Joy and Fun (NZ) (Cullen {Aus}) registered an upset when the race was contested over 1200 meters in 2010 and again last year when Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) proved fleetest of the fleet. Hong Kong fields a team of three this time around as they try to retain the crown. 

The best of the trio could be Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), one of the most progressive horses in the country. Winner of the G2 Jockey Club Sprint over 1200 meters Nov. 23, the bay nearly became the first sophomore to score in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 14, but dropped a narrow decision to Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}). Following up with a determined success over Bundle of Joy (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}) in the Centenary Sprint Cup over the 1000-meter straight course Jan. 25, he exits a good fourth to top sprinter/miler Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}) in the six-furlong Chairman’s Sprint Prize Feb. 15. Once a candidate for the G1 Golden Shaheen, he shows up here instead, but has an awkward draw in the stands’ side 16 hole with all the speed in that half of the gate. Nonetheless, trainer Tony Cruz is optimistic. 

“He worked very well on the turf the other day and we expect him to be very competitive Saturday,” the conditioner commented. “I believe now that he is a real straight track sprinter. We thought about the Golden Shaheen but there’s a question mark about the dirt surface for him and he has never been left-handed, so we are going the safer option.” 

In a field full of burners, Phil Lebherz, Alan Klein and Edward Brown Jr.’s Distinctiv Passion (With Distinction) may have the necessary gas to take them a long ways Saturday. The Florida-bred is two-for-three at this distance, having clocked :44.07 to the half in a Del Mar allowance in July 2013 and an other-worldly :43.63 when coming home first in that year’s Green Flash H. He was subsequently demoted to third. Whether he can win the battle and the war is the $1-million question. 

Seven of Saturday’s entrants emerge from the G3 Meydan Sprint three weeks back. There were varying degrees of hard-luck stories, including Sir Maximilian (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}), who dove late to best 2014 Al Quoz runner-upAhtoug (Ire) (Byron {GB}) and Caspar Netscher (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}). Sir Maximilian was short of room inside the final furlong, but gathered himself back up and was able to lead on the line and should sit a good trip behind the phalanx of front-runners, then hope for a way through. 

Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) makes his fifth consecutive appearance in this event, his best effort coming via a runner-up effort to Ortensia (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}) in 2012. Seventh to Amber Sky last year, Sole Power was one of the more inconvenienced runners in the Meydan Sprint, as he was deprived of a run for most of the final furlong. 

“We have been very pleased with his preparation,” said his trainer Eddie Lynam. “We all know he is more than capable of a big run, but his style of running does often mean we need a bit of luck.” 

A cleaner passage could land him much closer in a wide-open renewal.