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With the Longines Hong Kong International Races less than four weeks away the Jockey Club Races at Sha Tin on Sunday will provide the prime lead-up contests to Hong Kong racing’s showpiece.
Photo by HKJC
The program features the Longines Jockey Club Cup (2000m), the Jockey Club Mile (1600m) and the Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), a trio of international G2 races that have attracted many local stars including Royal Ascot hero Little Bridge.
Danny Shum’s star sprinter landed last year’s Jockey Club Sprint and bids for back-to-back wins on his home return after his travels to the UK and Japan.
The Royal Ascot King's Stand Stakes winner made his seasonal debut with a 10th in the G1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan on September 20 and has since had a 1200m dirt trial at Sha Tin on November 9.
"I’m happier with him than I was before he went to Japan," reported his rider Zac Purton.
"I thought his trial was better than the trial he had before Japan. He wasn’t trying to break any records, he was out to stretch his legs, his action was good and he feels good.
"There’s still improvement there. He doesn’t feel like he’s in top form yet, so I think this run will really bring him on.
"He’ll be peaking for the Hong Kong Sprint in December but I still think he’ll be very hard to beat on Sunday."
Shum echoed Purton's summation.
"He’s not 100% fit but he’s coming right with December the target. Lucky Nine and Cerise Cherry will be hard to beat but he will run well," Shum said.
The Caspar Fownes-trained Lucky Nine, building up to a defence of Hong Kong Sprint crown on December 9, was a storming fifth after trouble in running in the Sprinters Stakes while Cerise Cherry impressed with a recent course and distance win in the HKG2 Premier Bowl for trainer Derek Cruz.
The local stars will meet Super Easy, Singapore’s star galloper who has won 12 of 13 starts for trainer Michael Freedman including the SG1 Singapore Guineas.
"He has settled in really well. He lost about four to five kilos on the way over and he’s already put those kilos back on," Freedman told the Singapore Turf Club on Monday.
Trainer David Ferraris is hoping for a pair of big efforts from his stable stars Liberator and Sweet Orange on Sunday.
Hong Kong’s champion stayer Liberator runs in the Longines Jockey Club Cup against last year’s Hong Kong Cup hero California Memory while Sweet Orange is among 11 contenders for the Jockey Club Mile, a race that includes two-time Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon and dual G1 Champions Mile hero Xtension.
"Liberator is in good form," revealed Ferraris. "The 2000m is his game and he’ll be very competitive on Sunday.
"He has two runs under his belt now but the fact is he’s carrying 5lbs more than most of the others because he’s a Group 1 winner.
"I’m very happy with Sweet Orange. He’s not had the ideal preparation but the aim was to try and get a race into him before December.
"He should run a decent race on Sunday and if he does then we’ll be on track."