By Alan Carasso
The top four finishers from the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) renew acquaintances this weekend in the G1 Stewards' Cup and G1 Centenary Sprint Cup, respectively, at Sha Tin Racecourse.
The first leg of the 'Triple Crown' for older horses, the Stewards' Cup is perenially a melting pot sort of race, as it brings together the jurisdiction's mile specialists and some of the top middle-distance runners who are more likely using the race as a steppingstone towards longer events down the line. Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) was given a perfectly rated ride by Derek Leung and proved not for catching in the Mile Dec. 10 as Western Express (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) and last year's Stewards' Cup hero Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}) closed off well to fill the minors.
The sectionals of the Mile were not taxing, but the speed could map out differently this time given the presence of Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko), who got a similarly clever ride from the front by Zac Purton and sprinted home to score easily from Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup last time. Time Warp and Werther will proceed to the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) Feb. 25 win, lose or draw Sunday.
Fifty Fifty (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}) adds intrigue to the Stewards' Cup. Winner of four of his six local appearances, the gray exits a first pattern score over 1400m on New Year's Day, albeit with just 113 pounds on his back, with Helene Paragon (133) and Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}, 132) back in third and fourth.
Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) combined for a John Size 1-2 in the Hong Kong Sprint seven weeks ago and will attract the lion's share of the wagering dollar in the Centenary Sprint Cup Sunday. The former, Hong Kong's top-rated galloper, got home as the 1.90 (9-10) favourite on international day, while D B Pin was having his coming-out party, as he completed a 13-1 quinella, looking for a stride or two like he might cause the upset.
Also in with a chance is HK Sprint third Blizzard (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), on trial for a return to Japan for the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at the end of March. He was a close fifth in the G1 Sprinters' S. in October. Hugh Bowman has the call on Werther in the Stewards' Cup and reunites here with Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), who gets blinkers for the first time. The two teamed to narrowly defeat Mr Stunning in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize last May.
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