The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races are now complete, with attention turning to the months ahead as the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Triple Crown and the Hong Kong Speed Series come into focus.
Following Ka Ying Rising’s HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) victory, David Hayes was in upbeat spirits at Sha Tin on Tuesday (16 December). He confirmed the top-class sprinter will enjoy a brief break before returning for the HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), the opening leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, on 25 January.
“He’s pulled up really well. Visually, it was probably his best performance. I think his last two runs have been career peaks and hopefully he can maintain that level. He’ll head to Conghua now for a month. He’ll be back in January,” Hayes said.
Hayes also highlighted Public Attention ahead of the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, to be run on 1 February. The series continues with the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and concludes with the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March.
The 83-rated colt has had two runs in Hong Kong, finishing within half a length of the winner on both occasions. That includes a narrow third placing last Sunday (14 December) in a Class 2 contest over 1400m.
“I thought he ran really well. He probably just needs one more run at 1400 metres. He is the stable’s leading Hong Kong Classic Mile horse,” Hayes said.
Ricky Yiu reported Voyage Bubble has come through the weekend in good order. The seven-year-old, a six-time Group 1 winner, now begins another Triple Crown preparation as he targets a third successive HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) win on 25 January.
“He’s fine. He’s really, really well. He’s an amazing horse and it looks like he hasn’t even had a run. He’s full of energy and very tough. We’ll follow the same programme as last season, with the Stewards’ Cup next,” Yiu said.
Ahead of the return of the city’s leading performers next month, Wednesday’s (17 December) nine-race meeting at Happy Valley features Hong Kong International Sale graduate Super Unicorn (125lb), who bids for a third straight victory in the Class 3 Sea Eagle Handicap (1650m) with Andrea Atzeni aboard.
“He’s clearly improved. Getting his head in front a few starts ago really boosted his confidence. We felt going into his last run that he had taken another step forward because his work at home was better. We knew he was going up in grade, but the win didn’t surprise us,” Atzeni said.
After stepping up in class last month, Super Unicorn produced a strong finish from well back to score by a neck at odds of 19/1 under Atzeni, who recently finished a close second on Giavellotto in Sunday’s HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
“He ran a brilliant race,” Atzeni said. “Turning in, I was travelling as well as the winner, if not better. When the winner kicked, he got first run on us. My horse kept fighting to the line and the winner kept finding. They’re two very good horses.”
King Oberon (134lb) will also be chasing a third consecutive win on Wednesday night in the Class 4 Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1200m) for trainer Douglas Whyte.
“He’s trained on very well over the past two months. He looks in good shape. He trialled 12 days ago and Luke was very pleased. His feedback was positive and he goes into the race in good form,” Whyte said.
“Confidence plays a big role. He was often placed before, but since breaking through with that first win and then running well again, I think he’s enjoyed being back at Happy Valley. He ran into some progressive horses at Sha Tin, and that may have knocked him a little. He’s gained confidence and it’s starting to show.”
Wednesday’s (17 December) nine-race fixture at Happy Valley gets underway at 6.40pm with the Class 5 Heron Handicap (2200m).
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