By Alan Carasso
Coming into Sunday's Champions and Chater Cup, the final Group 1 test for the 2015-2016, favourites had been successful just twice since the turn of the century. Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), so impressive in thrashing his rivals in the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup Apr. 24, was long odds-on to complete a magical season, but Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) had other ideas and pulled the upset of a Hong Kong Derby winner for a second time in the last three seasons.
One of the most versatile horses around, Blazing Speed defeated some of the top local milers in the 2014 Stewards' Cup and belied odds of 24-1 to best Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in this event. A 14-1 chance when accounting for Japan's Staphanos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the 2015 QE II Cup (2000m), he'd gone winless since–including a third as the 3-2 favourite in the 2015 C&C–though he was far from embarrassed when third to Werther in defence of that particular title last time out.
Neil Callan got Blazing Speed immediately into a perfect position just covering the race favorite and with cover behind Ambitious Champion (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) as Helene Happy Star (Ire) (Zamindar), third in this event last term, took them along at a solid gallop. There was no change in the plot down the back, but things began to heat up a bit on the turn, as Joao Moreira got busy on Designs On Rome with his patented wide sweep. Back up front, Helene Happy Star was clinging on from Ambitious Champion, but Hugh Bowman had Werther lying in wait and they split horses to challenge at the 300m. But the electrifying turn of foot that was on display in the QE II was missing, and Werther was soon joined by Blazing Speed and Derby runner-up Victory Magic (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and the stage was set. The trio raced lockstep into the final half-furlong, nothing giving an inch, but Callan managed to throw Blazing Speed across the line first from between horses in a thriller, while Victory Magic out-nodded Werther for second.
Said Callan, “Once we hit the corner and I straightened him up, I just gave him one slap down the shoulder and he immediately came into the bridle and I knew he'd give me everything to the line; whether that was win, lose or draw I knew he'd go out fighting. And he did but on the right end!”
Contrary to the opinion of trainer John Moore, who thought the added 400m of the Champions and Chater would not inconvenience Werther, jockey Hugh Bowman said, “He's just not as effective at that distance.”
A product of the wildly successful Danehill/Sadler's Wells cross, Blazing Speed hails from a female family dotted with Hong Kong form. His dam is a half-sister to Hong Kong Derby hero Johann Cruyff (GB) (Danehill) while another half-sister, Mantles Princess (GB) (Rock City {Ire}), produced Derby victor Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS AND CHATER CUP-G1, HK$10,000,000 (£881,520/€1,149,484/A$1,786,725/US$1,287,365), 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26.18, gd/fm.
1–BLAZING SPEED (GB), 126, g, 7, 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 Wlg '09 TATDEC; 45,000gns RNA Ylg '10 TATOCT; 41,000gns Ylg '10 TATDEC). O-Fentons Racing Syndicate; B-J Sankey; T-Tony Cruz; J-Neil Callan; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: 40-10-5-4, HK$43,990,760. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus.*
2–Victory Magic (NZ), 126, g, 4, Savabeel (Aus)–Zephyr Song (NZ), by Danasinga (Aus). (NZ$140,000 Ylg '13 NZBPRE; NZ$240,000 2yo 'NZBRTR). O-Mr & Mrs Sebastian Man; B-G J Chittick; T-John Moore; HK$2,200,000.
[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Werther (NZ), 126, g, 4, Tavistock (NZ)–Bagalollies (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ). O-Johnson Chen; B-B-C D Allison, C V & J A Barnao, A R Campbell, T G Heptinstall, T M Pivac & D R Platt; T-John Moore; HK$1,000,000.
Margins: SHD, SHD, 1. Odds: 83-10, 61-10, 7-10.
[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Also Ran: Designs On Rome (Ire), Helene Happy Star (Ire), Ambitious Champion (NZ), Military Attack (Ire), Giovanni Canaletto (Ire).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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