By Alan Carasso
What promised to be a contentious renewal of the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the middle leg of the 4-year-old series, proved to be that and a whole lot more. No fewer than five horses came from any part of the track to settle the finish, with Sun Jewellery (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) finding the line just ahead of hot favorite Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) under yet another masterful piece of reinsmanship from Ryan Moore.
The questions heading in to Sunday's feature were many. Could Sun Jewellery and Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) continue to defy their speedier pedigrees and see out this 1800m trip? Would Werther cement a spot at the top of the division off his runner-up effort behind Sun Jewellery in the Classic Mile Jan. 24? Was Giovanni Canaletto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})'s solid finish in the Classic Mile a fluke or a harbinger of things to come? Is Eastern Express (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), rated just 81, really this good? There were answers to be found after 108 fascinating seconds on an overcast afternoon in the New Territories.
Green Dispatch (War Front) won the break and, with blinkers on, raced freely to set the pace in advance of Eastern Express, the rare 4-year-old with a win over the course and distance–albeit in Class 3. Sun Jewellery, drawn three, and odds-on Werther, who left gate six, raced together from midfield, with Hugh Bowman tracking his market rival and seemingly holding all the cards from a tactical standpoint. The outposted Blizzard raced deep for the opening 600 meters, but Gerald Mosse ultimately allowed him to stride along to be a forward factor from third, a decision that ultimately would allow the gelding to play a role in the finish.
Green Dispatch continued to bowl along up front, but the plot was thickening behind, as Bowman pulled Werther into the three path, but was flushed deeper by California Disegno (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) while Moore followed the move of Blizzard into the stretch, able to save some ground. A spot to the inside of Werther failed to materialize for Sun Jewellery, but one did underneath Eastern Express, who had taken over with a furlong to race. With Moore hard at work, his legs swinging in the irons, Sun Jewellery fought on gamely at the rail and managed to get his nose down ahead of Werther for a second straight time. The camera could not split Eastern Express and Blizzard for third, while Giovanni Canaletto and Friends of Ka Ying (Aus) (Al Maher {Aus}) got home eye-catchingly from the tail of the field to seal their spots in the Hong Kong Derby. Sun Jewellery is the first since Floral Pegasus (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus) to complete the Classic Mile/Classic Cup double. No horse has swept the series, which concludes with the HK$18 million (US$2.3 million) domestic centerpiece Mar. 20.
“He's got an awful lot of courage,” said Moore, “and that–as well as his attitude–are the two things that stand out about him most. I did always feel that I was going to get up. Werther started moving early and I wanted to keep tabs on him–he got away from me a bit but my horse dug in very well.”
It was the third Classic Cup score in the last four seasons for trainer John Size.
“Like most good horses he does a lot of things right and his temperament helps him a lot,” said Hong Kong's seven-time champion trainer. “He's manageable in a race and he's determined in a finish, so all those attributes you'd love to have in any horse.”
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP, HK$10,000,000 (£892,955/€1,155,457), Sha Tin, 2-21, 4yo, 1800mT, 1:48.01, gd.
1–SUN JEWELLERY (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Snitzel (Aus)
1st Dam: Tan Tat Star (Aus), by Umatilla (NZ)
2nd Dam: Rhum Dancer (Aus), by Command Module (Aus)
3rd Dam: Gaelic Dancer (Aus), by Boysie Boy (GB)
O/B-Tung Moon Fai; T-John Size; J-Ryan Moore; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: 11-8-2-0, HK$16,905,370. *1/2 to Tan Tat De Lago (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), GSW-Aus, $372,310.
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2–Werther (NZ), 126, g, 4, Tavistock (NZ)–Bagalollies (Aus), by Zabeel (NZ). O-Johnson Chen; 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$2,200,000.
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(DH)-3–Blizzard (Aus), 126, g, 4, Starcraft (NZ)–Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). (A$75,000 Ylg '13 INGMEL). O-Infinitude Syndicate; B-G S A Bloodstock Pty Ltd; T-Ricky Yiu; HK$875,000.
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(DH)-3–Eastern Express (Ire), 126, g, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB). (150,000gns Ylg '13 TATOCT). O-Larry Yung Chi Kin; B-K Molloy; T-John Size; HK$875,000.
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Margins: HD, NO, (DH). Odds: 12-5, 9-10, (11-1, 10-1).
Also Ran: Giovanni Canaletto (Ire), Friends of Ka Ying (Aus), McQueen (NZ), Consort (Ire), White Magic (Ire), Green Dispatch, California Disegno (Ire), The Monarch (Ire).
Click for the HKJC.com chart. VIDEO.
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