The build-up to Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin has gathered pace, and much of the conversation around the Hong Kong Classic Cup centres on Stormy Grove’s electric late surge last start at the iconic Hong Kong venue. For jockey Harry Bentley, that performance was not merely eye-catching — it was the kind of effort that builds genuine confidence ahead of a searching 1800-metre test at Sha Tin Racecourse.
Stormy Grove earned his place in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series’ second leg the hard way at Sha Tin. Having missed the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the Frankie Lor-trained gelding only just made the field courtesy of a Class 3 success at the same venue on 14 February. Yet it was the manner of that victory on the Sha Tin turf that turned heads across Hong Kong racing.
Drawn wide in barrier 14, the chestnut was forced to settle at the rear before unleashing a sweeping run down the Sha Tin home straight, charging from last to first to score by three-quarters of a length. The performance was all the more striking given he only secured a start due to a late scratching. His final 400 metres — a scintillating 21.85 seconds — was comfortably the quickest sectional recorded at Sha Tin that day.
“His closing sectional was really quick,” Bentley reflected. “And just the way the race panned out … it makes it all the more impressive for my horse to do what he did.”
Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin a Stern 1800m Examination
Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin presents a new examination. The step up to 1800 metres at the expansive New Territories circuit takes Stormy Grove into uncharted territory, but it is one Bentley believes the Australian-bred gelding is ready to explore.
“We’re under no illusions,” the Englishman said. “We’re going in against some really smart horses, and we’ve got to step up in distance again. But he’s getting there.”
Formerly prepared in Australia by Patrick and Michelle Payne before his import to Hong Kong, Stormy Grove has steadily found his feet racing at Sha Tin this season. From six local starts, he has recorded a win, a second and a third — each run suggesting he is adapting well to the demands of the track.
He has already crossed paths with several rivals he will meet again in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin. He finished one and a quarter lengths behind Patch Of Cosmo in an earlier contest and was beaten only a nose by Lucky Sam Gor. He also finished ahead of Akashvani and Circuit Grand Slam in separate runs at the venue. On Sunday, all meet at level weights of 126lb, adding another layer of intrigue to the 1800m feature.
Bentley believes maturity remains key.
“He’s learning on the job still. I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement with him. He’s quite a green horse. If you watch him head-on, even in the straight, he still has a tendency to run around a little bit. But if he can relax like last time, he’s certainly one to watch.”
Sha Tin stages an 11-race programme on 1 March, beginning at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap (1800m). The Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin is scheduled for 4.45pm, while the afternoon also features the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) at 3.35pm — ensuring a compelling day of top-class racing at the city’s premier racecourse.
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