In the 2014 G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) almost accomplished the unthinkable, nearly winning the race as a 3-year-old. Twelve months on from a performance that established him as one to watch for the future, he made the most of a capitalistic ride from leading jockey Joao Moreira, holding off late rallies from favored Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) and Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). It was a gap back to Dundonnell (First Defence), who completed a top-four sweep for Hong Kong.
Winner in Europe of the Weatherbys Super Sprint when under the care of Richard Fahey in 2013, Peniaphobia took advantage of a roughly run G2 Jockey Club Sprint, but dropped a narrow decision to Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in this event next time out. Trainer Tony Cruz, who conditioned the legendary Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie) to a pair of Hong Kong Sprint victories, suggested Peniaphobia might be even better over 1000 meters, and the gelding backed up that notion with a win in the Centenary Sprint Cup in January and a runner-up effort behind Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in March. He'd shown progression in each of his three starts in the build up to this event this season and was exiting a game second to Gold-Fun after setting a searching pace in defense of his Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 22.
A great debate ensued following Thursday's barrier draw when Peniaphobia drew outside in the field of 14, reduced to 13 by the late scratch of Strathmore (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Would he be snagged back to let the other knock heads and come after them late? Or would Joao Moreira hit the gas and take them as far and as fast as he could? The latter proved to be the winning move, as the 'Magic Man' bounced his mount straight to the lead and managed to cross down onto the rails while hounded along by Japan's Mikki Isle (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and not by GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint victor Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday), as many had expected. He crossed into the final 400 meters, having gone hard in the middle stages, but he pinched a break with a little more than a furlong to race, and although Gold-Fun and Not Listenin'tome were pulling back the margin late, the wire arrived in time. Mongolian Saturday drifted away from the inside as they cornered, but stayed on reasonably well to be fifth, beaten four lengths. Green Mask (Mizzen Mast), deep early and also not smooth into the stretch, was eighth, beaten a half-dozen lengths.
“I thank God that I was on board him, he was meant to win the race, the way he's done things today,” Moreira said, adding the Sprint to wins in the Cup and Mile in 2014. “He gave me a beautiful ride, he's so professional. I had to use him in the back straight to come across so I wanted to hold on to him as long as I could. We made it and everything was fine.”
Winning trainer nominated a return trip to Dubai and/or a trip to England as possible longer-term goals for the winner.
Of Mongolian Saturday, Florent Geroux said, “Great trip, was forwardly placed, let the speed go. He was relaxed but maybe a little too relaxed. He was a little surprised and never really took the bit. He didn't know what to do. He was focused better early in the race but from the quarter-pole to the end, he was a little confused. The experience of this kind of trip will help him.”
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT-G1, HK$18,500,000 (US$2,386,838), Sha Tin, 12-13, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.74, gd.
1–&PENIAPHOBIA (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Dandy Man (Ire)
1st Dam: Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion
2nd Dam: Travel Magic (Ire), by Henbit
3rd Dam: Quiet Harbour (Ire), by Mill Reef
(€11,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 Ylg '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen; B-Andrew Fogarty; T-Tony Cruz; J-Joao Moreira; HK$13,110,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-UAE, 23-10-6-3. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Gold-Fun (Ire), 126, g, 6, Le Vie Dei Colori (GB)–Goodwood March (GB), by Foxhound (10,000gns Ylg '10 TATOCT). O-Pan Sutong; B-; T-Richard Gibson; HK$5,060,000.
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3–Not Listenin'tome (Aus), 126, g, 5, Dylan Thomas (Ire)–Flame of Sydney (Aus), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). (A$270,000 Ylg '12 INGEAS). O-Matthew Wong; B-; T-John Moore; HK$2,300,000.
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Margins: HF, HF, 2. Odds: 34-10, 9-10, 63-10.
Also Ran: Dundonnell, Mongolian Saturday, Charles the Great (Ire), Mikki Isle (Jpn), Green Mask, Straight Girl (Jpn), Lucky Nine (Ire), Sole Power (GB), Sakura Gospel (Jpn), Rich Tapestry (Ire). Scratched: Strathmore (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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