Contentment Continues Ascent in Sha Tin Trophy
Sunday’s Sha Tin Trophy H. was billed as a two-horse race between rising star Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet) and recent last year’s Hong Kong Classic Mile hero Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}, and the former was able to take advantage of a soft trip in what could become an intriguing head-to-head rivalry.
Following a ninth in last term’s Hong Kong Derby over 2000 meters, Contentment pinched a Class 2 June 14 and a Class 1 over Beauty Only July 12, both going this preferred distance. The John Size runner raced handy to the pace in the Celebration Cup H. over seven furlongs and outfinished Giant Treasure (Giant’s Causeway) by a half-length on seasonal reappearance Oct. 1.
Drawn wide in gate 11, Contentment was driven along early by Joao Moreira and burned just enough gas to get over to settle just off pacesetting Beauty Flame (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). The longer-winded comebackers such as Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) and Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) raced midfield or worse, while Beauty Only dropped well back and Giant Treasure trailed. Beauty Flame still led comfortably turning for home, but Moreira had Contentment ready to roll and sent him into the lead with 200 meters to go. Beauty Only let down with a strong finish, but the wire came first for Contentment, as Military Attack, Giant Treasure and Blazing Speed all finished with gusto from further back in the field.
“The [Group 2] Jockey Club Mile [Nov. 22] will be next and then the international Mile in December,” said trainer John Size, who has long rated the gelding a Group 1 horse in the making. “He has always shown me that he was a very good horse, from the first day that he walked into the stable. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I thought he was a good horse before he raced. He always did everything correctly–he’s always presented like a good horse.”
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
ORIENTAL WATCH SHA TIN TROPHY H., HK$4,000,000 (US$516,126), Sha Tin, 10-25, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.79, gd/fm.
1–CONTENTMENT (AUS), 120, g, 5, Hussonet–Jemison (Aus), by Commands (Aus). (A$65,000 Ylg ‘12 INGCLS). O-Benson Lo; B-P J Favretto; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: 11-8-1-0, HK$9,754,600.
2–Beauty Only (Ire), 120, g, 4, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Goldendale (Ire), by Ali-Royal (Ire). (€72,000 Ylg ‘12 ITYSEP). O-Eleanor & Patrick Kwok. HK$880,000.
3–Military Attack (Ire), 133, g, 7, Oratorio (Ire)–Almaaseh (Ire), by Dancing Brave. (€40,000 Ylg ‘09 GOFSEP). O-Canny Leung. HK$460,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2HF, NO. Odds: 1-1, 26-10, 11-1.
Also Ran: Beauty Flame (Ire), Giant Treasure, Blazing Speed (GB), Helene Happy Star (Ire), Helene Super Star, Dan Excel (Ire), Rainbow Chic (Fr), Harbour Master, Rewarding Hero (GB), Pleasure Gains (GB), Dominant (Ire).
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