By Alan Carasso
But for a slow-starting runner-up effort in his penultimate appearance on the Longines Hong Kong International undercard Dec. 10, Nothingilikemore (Aus) (Husson {Arg}) would be the owner of a perfect record heading into Sunday's Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse, for which he will be a warm favourite to negotiate the 1800m trip for the first time.
Untouched in his four starts at three last term, the bay gelding easily disposed of Class 2 company over 1400m Oct. 22 prior to his slight misstep two back. Sent off the $1.60 (3-5) in the Classic Mile four weeks ago, Nothingilikemore came from a position worse than midfield and sprinted best of all en route to a convincing 1 1/4-length defeat of Singapore Sling (SAf) (Philanthropist) and Morethanlucky (NZ) (Per Incanto). If Sunday's distance is a query, connections are not letting on.
“He's a very special horse,” jockey Joao Moreira told the HKJC's David Morgan Friday morning. “I have no doubts that 1800 metres will be no problem for him. He was very impressive last time and if he reproduces the same form, it's going to be very hard again for those horses to beat him.”
Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could be the main danger and is being bet accordingly as the only of the 12 entrants in single digits ante-post at $6.60 (28-5). Whereas the race favourite has yet to run this far, Exultant is already well-versed at trips even further than this one, having overcome a torrid run to take out Class 2 over the BMW Hong Kong Derby 2000 metres Dec. 23. It was never going to be an easy task cutting back to the metric mile last time and he was predictably doing his best work late to finish fourth, with a final two furlongs in a solid :23.03.
“This distance will be better for him than the mile last time,” trainer Tony Cruz told Morgan. “He's definitely going to be more suited to the 1800 metres and in time we will see him racing over 2400 metres, that won't be a problem.”
Cruz, who last won the Classic Cup with Floral Pegasus (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus) 10 years ago, also sends out likely pacesetter The Golden Age (Fr) (My Risk {Fr}) and an intriguing European import in Doctor Geoff (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}).
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