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A classy array of talent is set to contest the first leg of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Series at Sha Tin on Sunday 20 January, with 14 hopefuls set to line up for the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m).
The Richard Gibson-trained Gold-Fun is the likely favourite after winning the two most recent of his three starts in eye-catching fashion under Sunday’s rider Douglas Whyte, but as is usual in this race, an assemblage of local rising stars, some with heavyweight overseas form behind them, are winding up for a shot at big-race glory.
Rainbow Chic was given a low-key introduction to Hong Kong racing when tiring late to finish eighth in a 1600m Class 2 at Sha Tin in December. The Peintre Celebre gelding has since shown in a couple of barrier trials that he could be ready to build upon his smart fourth-place in last season’s G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly.
“I’m very pleased with his progress and I’m confident he’ll run a big race,” said trainer Caspar Fownes of his charge, who won a 1200m all-weather trial on 11 January and will be ridden by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Brett Prebble.
“There’s a little bit of depth in the race but he’s well and he has some smart form in Europe, he ran well in the Group 1 in France - I spoke to Christophe (Soumillon) and he could have been a bit closer in the finish that day.”
John Moore is set to saddle Ashkiyr, G2-placed in France last term and ninth to Gold-Fun when making his Hong Kong debut in a 1600m Class 2 on 1 January.
“His first run up was actually very good – we were happy with it, over a mile. He bottomed at the 100m but he was coming into it and looked like he was going to run a place,” said the trainer.
“He’d probably be one race behind a horse like Akeed Mofeed, but if he could run third or fourth in the Mile, which on his French form might be a touch short, we’ll be going in the right direction and I’ll know I’ve got him right where I want him at this stage of his progression. We’ve still got the Hong Kong Classic Cup to come over 1800m and then we’ll go the 2000m in the BMW Hong Kong Derby.”
Champion trainer John Size has three candidates that have already put in the leg-work on the Hong Kong circuit as he bids for a first success in the race. Of those, Happy Era won his first three starts before running a short-head second in the Griffin Trophy last month and steps up to 1600m for the first time, while It Has To be You was a solid sixth to last year’s BMW HK Derby runner-up Same World over 1800m last time.
“Happy Era has done nothing wrong,” said Size. “He’s won three out of four and he was beaten the other day but he’s quite progressive. I think he’ll handle the 1600m okay and I believe he’s got more in him - he’s rated 88 and I think he’s going to go further than that.
“It Has To Be You is fine, he’s fit and well and he’s training nicely. It looked like a further distance would be suitable and we’re probably looking for 2000m. If he can get the rating and get selected, I’d be looking to run him in the Derby.”
Size’s third candidate is Endowing, who crept in as number 14 following the expected defection of BMW Hong Kong Derby hope Akeed Mofeed at this morning’s declaration stage (17 January). The Danehill Dancer gelding was a half-length second to Gold-Fun last time, in receipt of 5lbs.
Also among the declared runners are Wah May Star and President Lincoln, last season’s German G3 winner Exquisite Champion, French G2 winner Chater Dream and Crackerjack, who was runner-up in the 2012 G2 UAE Derby.
The Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Series continues with the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on Sunday 17 February, and concludes with the HK$16 million HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby on Sunday 17 March.
