France & Hong Kong share the International honours
December 15th 2009 04:17
The high expectations of Australian success in Hong Kong failed to turn into fact when our three exceptional sprinters - Apache Cat, All Silent, and Scenic Blast - all failed to varying (sometimes worrying) degrees in the Hong Kong Sprint.
(photo: Neil Murray)
Scenic Blast bled (‘badly’ was the stable comment); while Apache Cat pulled up sore; and All Silent found a chequered passage when Nick Hall elected to ride him for luck in the straight. Apache Cat was the first Australian (visiting) horse home and closed very strongly after being slowly away and much further back than expected. The strong tempo early ensured that even a slightly tardy break from the barriers would result in a rearward position and a difficult task.
The Australian bred Champion Hong Kong sprinter Sacred Kingdom won his second Hong Kong International Sprint and was ridden by Australian Brett Prebble in a masterful ride. Prebble suffered the jeers and taunts of the crowd before mounting after being beaten on short-priced favourites in earlier races. The local horses (once again) dominated the placings.
Good Ba Ba made history with his third successive win in the Hong Kong International Mile. As expected it developed into a match race between the established champion, Good Ba Ba, and rising star Happy Zero, in the run to the line. Happy Zero was first to emerge from the pack as likely winner - no sooner to be then claimed by the crowd favourite Good Ba Ba who swept home to the delight of the crowd. It is being considered that Good Ba Ba will step out to 2000 metres next campaign.
My highlights came from the French horses, Vision D’Etat and Daryakana. In my preview I nominated Vision D’Etat ($8.40 MaxiDiv) as the likely winner of the Hong Kong International Cup. The strong speed proved ideal for this French entire who only really fails when racing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe against the best horses in the world at 2400m. The 2000 metre trip of the Hong Kong Cup - with strong pace - proved ideal. Once again the timing of his run proved essential for Jockey Olivier Peslier who was worried that he had found the lead too early in the straight as he has a bad habit of pulling up when he feels the job is complete.
"He was bit lazy down the backstretch. But this is what he does when he is relaxed and when he is in good form. I didn't want to get to the lead too soon because I was worried he would try to stop, but he kept fighting to the line today." - Peslier, as reported to the Thoroughbred Times.
My guide to this feature meeting found all four feature race winners in top 3 selections. The greatest highlight for me was the performance of Daryakana, who remains unbeaten after five starts, and who came from a clear last to circle the field and sweep down the outside to gain victory right on the line. Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre - and owned by the Aga Khan - you could have been forgiven for thinking the great Zarkava had returned to racing, so similar was this filly to her illustrious predecessor. It is expected (unlike Zarkava) that this filly will stay in training for another year and be given the opportunity to emulate the season ending deeds of Zarkava in the Arc.
Complete results:
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG VASE 2400m: 6.70 DARYAKANA (ch f 3y Selkirk (USA) - Daryaba (IRE). Trainer: A De Royer-Dupre) 53 carr 53.5 (G Mosse) 1, 2.70 fav SPANISH MOON 57 (Ryan Moore) 2, 45.00 KASBAH BLISS 57 (T Thulliez) 3.
Then followed: 11.00 Jaguar Mail 9.50 Cirrus Des Aigles 9.90 Viva Pataca 9.40 Thumbs Up 62.00 Jamesina 41.00 Buccellati 5.40 Youmzain 30.00 Packing Winner 103.00 Jackpot Delight 67.00 Black Mamba last. All started. Sht hd, nse. Time: 2:27.51. (Last 400m 24.10).
CATHAY PACIFIC H K SPRINT 1200m: 2.50 fav SACRED KINGDOM (b g 6y Encosta De Lago - Courtroom Sweetie. Trainer: P Yiu) 57 (B Prebble) 1, 10.00 ONE WORLD 57 (D Beadman) 2, 21.00 JOY AND FUN 57 (B Doyle) 3.
Then followed: 14.00 Green Birdie 11.00 California Flag 29.00 Total Gallery 13.00 Apache Cat 5.00 All Silent 35.00 Inspiration 35.00 Cannonball 84.00 Borderlescott 43.00 War Artist 41.00 Laurel Guerreiro 9.30 Scenic Blast last. All started. 1/2 len, nse. Time: 1:09.16. (Last 400m 22.77).
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG MILE 1600m: 3.60 GOOD BA BA (b g 8y Lear Fan (USA) - Elle Meme (USA). Trainer: D Cruz) 57 (O Doleuze) 1, 1.90 fav HAPPY ZERO 57 (D Beadman) 2, 13.00 FELLOWSHIP 57 (Z Purton) 3.
Then followed: 19.00 Egyptian Ra 71.00 Ferneley 34.00 Confront 22.00 Alexandros 17.00 Able One 26.00 Sweet Hearth 76.00 Gris De Gris 22.00 Sight Winner 122.00 Duff 31.00 Racing To Win 66.00 Pressing last. All started. 1/2 len, hd. Time: 1:34.60. (Last 400m 23.56).
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG CUP 2000m: 7.00 VISION D'ETAT (b h 5y Chichicastenango (FR) - Uberaba (FR). Trainer: E Libaud) 57 (O Peslier) 1, 1.90 fav COLLECTION 57 (D Beadman) 2, 3.50 PRESVIS 57 (K Fallon) 3.
Then followed: 13.00 Ashalanda 19.00 Eagle Mountain 91.00 Starlish 84.00 Special Days 13.00 Mr Medici 63.00 Eyshal 35.00 Queen Spumante last. All started. 3/4 len, 2-1/2 len. Time: 2:01.86. (Last 400m 23.41).
Good Ba Ba (Christophe Soumillon) coming back after winning in 2008
(photo: Neil Murray)
Scenic Blast bled (‘badly’ was the stable comment); while Apache Cat pulled up sore; and All Silent found a chequered passage when Nick Hall elected to ride him for luck in the straight. Apache Cat was the first Australian (visiting) horse home and closed very strongly after being slowly away and much further back than expected. The strong tempo early ensured that even a slightly tardy break from the barriers would result in a rearward position and a difficult task.
The Australian bred Champion Hong Kong sprinter Sacred Kingdom won his second Hong Kong International Sprint and was ridden by Australian Brett Prebble in a masterful ride. Prebble suffered the jeers and taunts of the crowd before mounting after being beaten on short-priced favourites in earlier races. The local horses (once again) dominated the placings.
Good Ba Ba made history with his third successive win in the Hong Kong International Mile. As expected it developed into a match race between the established champion, Good Ba Ba, and rising star Happy Zero, in the run to the line. Happy Zero was first to emerge from the pack as likely winner - no sooner to be then claimed by the crowd favourite Good Ba Ba who swept home to the delight of the crowd. It is being considered that Good Ba Ba will step out to 2000 metres next campaign.
My highlights came from the French horses, Vision D’Etat and Daryakana. In my preview I nominated Vision D’Etat ($8.40 MaxiDiv) as the likely winner of the Hong Kong International Cup. The strong speed proved ideal for this French entire who only really fails when racing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe against the best horses in the world at 2400m. The 2000 metre trip of the Hong Kong Cup - with strong pace - proved ideal. Once again the timing of his run proved essential for Jockey Olivier Peslier who was worried that he had found the lead too early in the straight as he has a bad habit of pulling up when he feels the job is complete.
"He was bit lazy down the backstretch. But this is what he does when he is relaxed and when he is in good form. I didn't want to get to the lead too soon because I was worried he would try to stop, but he kept fighting to the line today." - Peslier, as reported to the Thoroughbred Times.
Daryakana - as good as Zarkava?
My guide to this feature meeting found all four feature race winners in top 3 selections. The greatest highlight for me was the performance of Daryakana, who remains unbeaten after five starts, and who came from a clear last to circle the field and sweep down the outside to gain victory right on the line. Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre - and owned by the Aga Khan - you could have been forgiven for thinking the great Zarkava had returned to racing, so similar was this filly to her illustrious predecessor. It is expected (unlike Zarkava) that this filly will stay in training for another year and be given the opportunity to emulate the season ending deeds of Zarkava in the Arc.
Complete results:
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG VASE 2400m: 6.70 DARYAKANA (ch f 3y Selkirk (USA) - Daryaba (IRE). Trainer: A De Royer-Dupre) 53 carr 53.5 (G Mosse) 1, 2.70 fav SPANISH MOON 57 (Ryan Moore) 2, 45.00 KASBAH BLISS 57 (T Thulliez) 3.
Then followed: 11.00 Jaguar Mail 9.50 Cirrus Des Aigles 9.90 Viva Pataca 9.40 Thumbs Up 62.00 Jamesina 41.00 Buccellati 5.40 Youmzain 30.00 Packing Winner 103.00 Jackpot Delight 67.00 Black Mamba last. All started. Sht hd, nse. Time: 2:27.51. (Last 400m 24.10).
CATHAY PACIFIC H K SPRINT 1200m: 2.50 fav SACRED KINGDOM (b g 6y Encosta De Lago - Courtroom Sweetie. Trainer: P Yiu) 57 (B Prebble) 1, 10.00 ONE WORLD 57 (D Beadman) 2, 21.00 JOY AND FUN 57 (B Doyle) 3.
Then followed: 14.00 Green Birdie 11.00 California Flag 29.00 Total Gallery 13.00 Apache Cat 5.00 All Silent 35.00 Inspiration 35.00 Cannonball 84.00 Borderlescott 43.00 War Artist 41.00 Laurel Guerreiro 9.30 Scenic Blast last. All started. 1/2 len, nse. Time: 1:09.16. (Last 400m 22.77).
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG MILE 1600m: 3.60 GOOD BA BA (b g 8y Lear Fan (USA) - Elle Meme (USA). Trainer: D Cruz) 57 (O Doleuze) 1, 1.90 fav HAPPY ZERO 57 (D Beadman) 2, 13.00 FELLOWSHIP 57 (Z Purton) 3.
Then followed: 19.00 Egyptian Ra 71.00 Ferneley 34.00 Confront 22.00 Alexandros 17.00 Able One 26.00 Sweet Hearth 76.00 Gris De Gris 22.00 Sight Winner 122.00 Duff 31.00 Racing To Win 66.00 Pressing last. All started. 1/2 len, hd. Time: 1:34.60. (Last 400m 23.56).
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG CUP 2000m: 7.00 VISION D'ETAT (b h 5y Chichicastenango (FR) - Uberaba (FR). Trainer: E Libaud) 57 (O Peslier) 1, 1.90 fav COLLECTION 57 (D Beadman) 2, 3.50 PRESVIS 57 (K Fallon) 3.
Then followed: 13.00 Ashalanda 19.00 Eagle Mountain 91.00 Starlish 84.00 Special Days 13.00 Mr Medici 63.00 Eyshal 35.00 Queen Spumante last. All started. 3/4 len, 2-1/2 len. Time: 2:01.86. (Last 400m 23.41).
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