Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), the highest-rated dirt horse in Hong Kong, will prep for a possible start in the ¥196-million (US$1.59 million) G1 Champions Cup (formerly Japan Cup Dirt) in a Class 1 handicap over the Sha Tin 'all-weather' surface Wednesday evening (Wednesday morning U.S. time).
Drawn gate three, the 5-year-old gelding, perfect in six starts on the dirt, will carry 132 pounds over the 1650-meter trip and will be partnered by Zac Purton for trainer Caspar Fownes. Though he is unraced since a Class 2 victory over the course and distance July 1, he has trialled nicely, including a 1200-meter hit-out Nov. 10 in which he found the line strongly to finish a short-head runner-up (video). Former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who makes his first start of the season in Saturday's G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Mile, was about three lengths further behind in fifth.
“Caspar's given him a good grounding,” said Purton, who has ridden the gelding in three of his four barrier trials since late September. “He's only going to have this one run and obviously if he wins or runs very well it looks like he's going to Japan after this.
Purton continued, “Caspar had to make sure he had the miles in his legs and he's done that. He's drawn a nice gate; he's been jumping well in his trials, so he should be able to take advantage of that. I just hope they run along at a nice speed. With a big weight that he's got it's nice to just breeze into it instead of having to sit and sprint, so if everything falls into place for him, hopefully he'll get it done. I wouldn't say he's at his top, but he's getting there and this run should top him.”
Gun Pit was quoted as the 1.8 (4-5) favorite overnight, with 1.0 (money back) in the place pools. Post time is 9:45 p.m local time (8:45 a.m. U.S. Eastern time). Click for the HKJC.com PPs.
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