By Alan Carasso
The supporting races for the Longines Hong Kong International Races always unveil a star or two. For example, on international day last December, the John Moore-trained Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) belied odds of 15-1 to take a one-mile Class 2 en route to a big win in the Hong Kong Derby and an even bigger one in the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
Two years prior, Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) won the race and followed up in the Hong Kong Classic Mile before finishing second to Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby. On paper, Sunday's finale (HKJC PPs) looks like a future key event, led by 'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal).
Ultra-impressive in winning his first two starts, the HK$6 million graduate of the 2016 Hong Kong International Sale has dropped his last two, but jockey Matthew Chadwick remains upbeat.
“He is well and he's ready to run a good race,” said jockey Matthew Chadwick. “He has drawn the outside in 14, but it's not really a positive or a negative, it just means that I have to hope the race pans out for us.”
Among the competition are Western Express (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), winner of both his starts in Australia and 1 1/2 lengths best in a Class 3 Nov. 12; and Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready), who was purchased privately out of victory in the G1 Queensland Derby June 11. He will begin his Hong Kong career on a rating of 93 and will carry 130 pounds.
Also featuring in the opening race on the program (HKJC PPs) is Jing Jing Win (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), the HK$8.5-million HKIS topper this past March and a perfect two-from-two despite some immature tendencies.
“He's not getting better in the gates at all,” jockey Zac Purton said. “He puts his front legs forward and locks them and basically sits down like a dog. So he's going to have to sort that out as he goes up in grade and against the better class horses. Fortunately though, so far he's been able to get away cleanly and put himself in the right spot and he's going to need to do that again.”
Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is the marquee name in race nine, a Class 2 over 1200m (HKJC PPs). Brilliant in winning three of his five appearances, the John Size trainee was bet down into 4-5 favoritism for a course-and-distance test Nov. 20, but got bumped around at the furlong grounds, got out late and rushed home to finish a very good fourth, beaten a half-length.
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