By Alan Carasso
Joao 'Magic Man' Moreira is apparently capable of everything.
He continues to break his own records for winners, booted home eight horses a few weeks ago, and Thursday said he had a premonition that Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) would pull gate four for Sunday's HK$18 million (£1.8 million) BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin Racecourse. Apparently he is clairvoyant to go along with his considerable talent, as the 114-rated chestnut will leave from that barrier in his attempt to become the first to sweep all three legs of the local 4-year-old series. If possible, somehow, trainer John Moore enters the domestic centerpiece with heightened confidence.
“The owner of Rapper Dragon asked me what gate I wanted, I said four to six,” Moore told the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Andrew Hawkins following the draw. “He got four, it couldn't be better for him. We all know Rapper Dragon has the early gate speed, he's going to get a great position and he's going to be given every chance from there.”
Three of the five other entrants from the Moore yard drew double-digit alleys, though given their respective running styles, none seems unduly inconvenienced.
“Some are a little on the wide side, although for some of them, it doesn't matter,” Moore commented. “A horse like Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready, gate 10), he settled midfield from a similar gate in [winning] the [G1] Queensland Derby and came home strong. Helene Charisma (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}, gate 14), he will be going back anyway and he will appreciate further, as will Rodrico (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}, gate seven).”
Four of the last six Derby winners have left from post 10 or higher, including two from 14, and if Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) is to win the Derby, he will add to that factoid. The 'TDN Rising Star' and one of the most popular horses in all of Hong Kong, he is a slam dunk to be snagged back from the wide barrier and should be allowed to make one sustained run from the tail.
“Pakistan Star, he's got no speed from the gate, so where can we go with him?,” said Tony Cruz, a two-time winner of the Derby as trainer and jockey. “He'll come from behind, so 13 is not a problem. We'll drop in with him and he'll run on. He'll run the way he always likes to. We tried to ride him handier that once in the Classic Mile and he didn't even finish off his race. The distance, 2000 metres, will suit him better this time, too.”
Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus}) will get the shortest way around from post one, though trainer Danny Shum wasn't exactly counting his blessings.
“It's fifty-fifty, I think,” the conditioner said. “It's a good draw in the sense that you save the ground, but then it can be a disadvantage because on the 'A' [rail-setting] track they will all come from behind on the outside.”
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