Saddled with the disadvantageous one hole (furthest from the stands' rail) and racing over a distance short of his best, Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) laid claim to the title of best local sprinter with a battling victory in the Centenary Sprint Cup, the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series.
Winner of three of his four starts in Europe for trainer Richard Fahey, including the Weatherbys Super Sprint, Peniaphobia made uncommon progress for a 3-year-old last season, taking three of his six appearances, including a defeat ofBundle of Joy (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}) in a Class 1 over this course and distance June 22. Those two rivals renewed acquaintances in the National Day Cup H. Oct. 1, with Bundle of Joy proving two lengths supreme on that occasion, but Peniaphobia was back in the win column with a confidence-boosting success at Happy Valley 18 days later.
The 14 hole seemed an obstacle in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 23 and Peniaphobia was forced to do it toughest while never closer than three deep, but the wide passage allowed him to avoid a boatload of trouble that was taking place down to his inside, and he was along late for a half-length defeat of Smart Volatility. That effort earned him a quote of 9-5 favoritism for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 14, but Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), the horse most affected in the JC Sprint, went straight to the front and proved not for catching, as Peniaphobia settled for a game second.
Reigning G1 Al Quoz Sprint hero Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) jumped away fast for Umberto Rispoli and argued a swift early pace outside of Bundle of Joy as Peniaphobia punched the breeze from three wide. Amber Sky had run his race at the 300-meter mark and the odds-on favorite was being niggled at by Douglas Whyte, and when Joao Moreira said 'go' with Bundle of Joy, it appeared the race was over. But Peniaphobia refused to go away and grabbed Bundle of Joy in the final two jumps for a determined success.
“I had to get hold of my guy a lot earlier than Joao did, but my horse has shown tenacity and fight and the pure 1200-meter runner was coming out in the end,” the 'Durban Demon' commented. “He was gaining, whereas Bundle Of Joy was folding up.”
The winner holds an entry for the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, and trainer Tony Cruz isn't the least bit concerned about the transition to dirt.
'He's more of a 1200-meter horse than a 1000-meter horse,” said Cruz. “The race is the opposite direction (left-handed), that's the only worry. I'm not afraid of the dirt track there. I prefer to go for that than the 1000-meter [race].”
Moreira was also reportedly of the opinion that Bundle of Joy could give a good account of himself if connections were to press on to the Al Quoz.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
KENT & CURWEN CENTENARY SPRINT CUP, HK$6,600,000 (US$851,379), Sha Tin, 1-25, 3yo/up, 1000mT, :55.49, gd/fm.
1–PENIAPHOBIA (IRE), 126, g, 4, Dandy Man (Ire)–Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion. (€11,000 wnlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 yrl '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen; B-Aidan Fogarty; T-Tony Cruz; J-Douglas Whyte; HK$3,762,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-HK, 16-9-4-2, HK$16,906,740. *1/2 to Safari Sunset (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}), GSP-Eng.
2–Bundle of Joy (Aus), 126, g, 5, Magic Albert (Aus)–Lady Starstruck (Aus), by Mr Henrysee. (A$36,000 yrl '11 INGSCO). O-Mr & Mrs Colin Lo Chor Cheong. HK$1,452,000.
3–Smart Volatility (Aus), 126, g, 6, Danewin (Aus)–Something Funny (Aus), by Baryshnikov (Aus). O-Clarissa Or. HK$759,000.
Margins: SHD, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 4-5, 23-10, 6-1.
Also Ran: Frederick Engels (GB), Sterling City (Aus), You Read My Mind (Ire), Eagle Regiment (Aus), Amber Sky (Aus).
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