While the vast majority of Hong Kong's best horses will be on display at next weekend's International Races meeting on the turf at Sha Tin, the jurisdiction's top dirt horse, Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), has made the trip north and east to Japan for Sunday's G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse.
The 5-year-old gelding, a perfect seven-for-seven on dirt, was given a preparation aimed at the Hong Kong Derby last March, but he was only 10th in that event and has since rattled off three straight over the 'all-weather,' i.e. dirt track, at Sha Tin. He was first-up for 4 1/2 months when making an appearance under top weight of 132 pounds in a Class 1 going an extended mile Nov. 18, and he made the most of a perfect inside trip beneath Zac Purton to score by a cozy two lengths, breaking his own track record in the process (video). A positive showing could lead to a trip to Dubai for a race like the G2 Godolphin Mile or the G1 World Cup, if he proves this trip is within his capabilities.
The task at hand is no easy one, however. Nonkono Yume (Jpn) (Twining) has proved the best Japanese dirt 3-year-old this year. Since suffering one of his three career defeats in the Fukuryu S. in April, the chestnut has teamed with Christophe Lemaire to win four on the bounce, including the Japan Dirt Derby over a sloppy strip at Ohi July 8 ahead of a narrow defeat of his elders in the G3 Musashino S. at Tokyo Nov. 14, in which he came from well back to be up on the wire.
“He's doing well and has recovered from his last start,” trainer Yukihiro Kato opined. “He's always been full of pep. I feel he's maturing gradually. The experience of a fast pace last race was good for him.”
Hokko Tarumae (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) will look to become the third to post multiple victories in this event. A mid-field fifth in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March, the bay won the Teio Sho in June and exits a third to Copano Rickey (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) off the four-month absence in the JBC Classic Nov. 3. The latter, a pacesetting second to Hokko Tarumae in last year's G1 Tokyo Daishoten, went one better in the G1 February S. and led every step of the way of the 2000 meters in the JBC Classic. He could face some pressure on the front end in the form of the speedy filly Coin Berry (Jpn) (South Vigorous {Jpn}), but will make his presence felt.
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