By Alan Carasso
Three of the eight Hong Kong-based horses who are set to represent the jurisdiction at the Dubai World Cup meeting Mar. 26 turned in final trials for their respective races Tuesday morning at Sha Tin Racecourse.
After some hemming and hawing from his connections, reigning G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was recently confirmed as a starter in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, a race in which he finished narrowly runner-up to Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in 2015. In advance of a rematch with that veteran runner over the straight 1000 metres on World Cup night, the Tony Cruz-trainee took part in the day's first trial over five furlongs. Peniaphobia veered to his right out of the stalls, but was easily quickest and led traveling sweetly into the final quarter-mile. Given a bit of rein by Joao Moreira, the 5-year-old kicked on generously, finishing up in :22.50 to account for the classy miler Packing Pins (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) by 1 1/4 lengths (video).
The morning's seventh trial featured half of the four-strong Hong Kong challenge for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Drawn gate two was Master Kochanwong (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), whose five wins in Hong Kong have all come over the Sha Tin 'all-weather' track, including a front-running two-length victory in a Class 1 over a rain-affected track Jan. 17. The 6-year-old, out of a mare by American Classic winner and recently deceased Timber Country jumped well in Tuesday's trial, but was soon headed by fellow Shaheen candidate Domineer (GB) (Shamardal), who left stall three. The latter, a two-time winner over the all-weather, but no better than a wide-trip and no-cover fifth to Master Kochanwong in the Class 1, led into the final furlong, but came under urging and could not resist the late bid of Master Kochanwong (video). Domineer is the mount of Frankie Dettori on World Cup night.
Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap) and Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), second and third, respectively, in the 2015 Golden Shaheen, are the other Hong Kong representatives in the six-furlong dirt test.
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