Hong Kong International Sprint preview
December 10th 2009 07:41
The Group One Hong Kong International Sprint will be run this weekend. This year it boasts a classic field with the local champion (and winner of this race in 2007) Scared Kingdom taking on a trio of formidable Australian representatives.
In addition this year’s Sprint boasts a high class field of sprinters from around the globe, with the winners of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, along with local Asian sprinting stars.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint is a Group One event run over 1200 metres at Sha Tin ($US1.6 million)
(photo: Neil Murray)
The trio from Australia will provide formidable opposition to all.
These three, individually unique horses, boast the best speedfigures of any Australian sprinters currently in training.
All Silent 325
Apache Cat 304
Scenic Blast 297
additional information on Speedratings
At Speedratings I successfully nominated Scenic Blast to win the Newmarket Handicap of 2009 at 12/1 - while also nominating (on this blog) All Silent as a horse to watch in 2009. He was also nominated by Speedratings this Spring as the best winning prospect in the Gilgai Stakes - which he won at 12/1 - and the Patinack Farm Classic, which he won at $3.70. I hold both these horses in high esteem - although neither is a typical sprinter. All Silent is still higher ranked on Speedfigures as a miler.
Both of these horses emerged as sprinting sensations in 2009 through their scintillating victories at Flemington in Group One events - down the straight track. Scenic Blast was able to reproduce his Flemington victories from the Lightning Stakes and The Newmarket Handicap when produced in England to win the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m Group One).
Apache Cat has been slightly more inconsistent in the past 12 months, though still managing to find success in the Group Two Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley in October. What can be more readily identified now is Apace Cat’s inability to reproduce his very best at Flemington. If you take out his Flemington runs (and failures) in the past 12 months he has won three races (two at Group One and one at Group Two) and only missed a place once (away from Flemington) when a very unlucky first up 6th in the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. Apache Cat is a better horse when racing around a bend.
None of the Australian horses are sprinters the traditional mould - like a Takeover Target for comparison - but each being a modified 1400 metre to 1600 metre horse excelling to an adaptation.
Both All Silent and Scenic Blast are spectacular at Flemington. And Apache Cat a regular failure at the same venue.
If they met over 1000m at Flemington I would select Scenic Blast to defeat All Silent and Apache Cat. If they met over 1200m at Flemington it would be All Silent to defeat Scenic Blast and Apache Cat. Overall I agree with the speedfigures and judge All Silent to be the best horse.
But away from straight track racing - around a turn and racing clockwise - I then tend to believe that Apache Cat will prove the better of the three and cause a (mild) surprise. The barrier draw places Scenic Blast inside; Apache Cat worse than middle; and All Silent widest in barrier 14. This draw I believe suits Apache Cat best. Perhaps the conditions of this race favour the perennial crowd favourite Apache Cat.
And now we must balance the chances of these horses against local champion Sacred Kingdom. This Australian bred son of Encosta De Lago looked as though he may be slipping before his brilliant victory when defeating rising star Rocket Man in the Group One Krisflyer International Sprint in Singapore last May. Subsequently he too would travel to England to compete in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes over 1200m and was beaten into 5th place by Art Connoisseur. In second place was US representative Cannonball who will be one of his rivals again..
This is truly a great sprint. It must surely be the best assembled field of sprinters anywhere in the world in season 2009 - although it does appear that Australia holds the key to the result.
Below is an overview of the field (Hong Kong Jockey Club press release):
Sacred Kingdom – Hong Kong’s champion sprinter, winner of this race in 2007 and the joint-highest rated sprinter in the world on current international ratings.
Scenic Blast – Australia’s Horse of the Year after three Gr.1 sprints in both hemispheres; will collect the US$1m Global Sprint Challenge bonus if he wins.
All Silent – Deeply impressive winning the Patinack Farm Classic earlier this month, his first of two Gr.1 wins down the Flemington straight.
Apache Cat – Hugely popular eight-time Gr.1 winner in Australia who tries to improve on his third-placed run in this race in 2008.
Total Gallery – Rapid progress this season to develop from high class handicapper to winner of the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.
Borderlescott – Ultra-consistent speedster who has won the last two editions of the Nunthorpe Stakes.
California Flag – America’s leading turf sprinter who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint earlier this month.
Inspiration – Shock winner of this race a year ago but proved it was far from a one-off with subsequent HKGr.1 and HKGr.3 victories.
Cannonball – American runner-up in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and recently a fast-finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Green Birdie – Runner-up in this race last year allied to successes in HKGr.2 and HKGr.3 events.
Laurel Guerreiro – Japan’s best sprinter having won both JRA Gr.1 sprints this year.
War Artist – Former topline sprinter in South Africa; Gr.2 and Gr.3 winner in Europe this summer and later third in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.
Joy And Fun –Dual Group winner in Hong Kong and third in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial.
One World – One of the most consistent top-level sprinters in Hong Kong who surely has a big prize within his capabilities.
My selections:
1 Apache Cat
2 All Silent
3 Sacred Kingdom
4 Scenic Blast
5 California Flag
Latest betting:
All Silent
4.40
Sacred Kingdom
4.60
Scenic Blast
6.50
Apache Cat
10.00
California Flag
10.00
Total Gallery
18.00
Inspiration
18.00
Laurel Guerreiro
18.00
Cannonball
19.00
Borderlescott
21.00
War Artist
21.00
Green Birdie
34.00
One World
41.00
In addition this year’s Sprint boasts a high class field of sprinters from around the globe, with the winners of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, along with local Asian sprinting stars.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint is a Group One event run over 1200 metres at Sha Tin ($US1.6 million)
Apache Cat (D. Oliver) winning the 2009 G.1 Australia Stakes at MV
(photo: Neil Murray)
The trio from Australia will provide formidable opposition to all.
These three, individually unique horses, boast the best speedfigures of any Australian sprinters currently in training.
All Silent 325
Apache Cat 304
Scenic Blast 297
additional information on Speedratings
At Speedratings I successfully nominated Scenic Blast to win the Newmarket Handicap of 2009 at 12/1 - while also nominating (on this blog) All Silent as a horse to watch in 2009. He was also nominated by Speedratings this Spring as the best winning prospect in the Gilgai Stakes - which he won at 12/1 - and the Patinack Farm Classic, which he won at $3.70. I hold both these horses in high esteem - although neither is a typical sprinter. All Silent is still higher ranked on Speedfigures as a miler.
Both of these horses emerged as sprinting sensations in 2009 through their scintillating victories at Flemington in Group One events - down the straight track. Scenic Blast was able to reproduce his Flemington victories from the Lightning Stakes and The Newmarket Handicap when produced in England to win the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m Group One).
Apache Cat has been slightly more inconsistent in the past 12 months, though still managing to find success in the Group Two Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley in October. What can be more readily identified now is Apace Cat’s inability to reproduce his very best at Flemington. If you take out his Flemington runs (and failures) in the past 12 months he has won three races (two at Group One and one at Group Two) and only missed a place once (away from Flemington) when a very unlucky first up 6th in the Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley. Apache Cat is a better horse when racing around a bend.
None of the Australian horses are sprinters the traditional mould - like a Takeover Target for comparison - but each being a modified 1400 metre to 1600 metre horse excelling to an adaptation.
Both All Silent and Scenic Blast are spectacular at Flemington. And Apache Cat a regular failure at the same venue.
If they met over 1000m at Flemington I would select Scenic Blast to defeat All Silent and Apache Cat. If they met over 1200m at Flemington it would be All Silent to defeat Scenic Blast and Apache Cat. Overall I agree with the speedfigures and judge All Silent to be the best horse.
But away from straight track racing - around a turn and racing clockwise - I then tend to believe that Apache Cat will prove the better of the three and cause a (mild) surprise. The barrier draw places Scenic Blast inside; Apache Cat worse than middle; and All Silent widest in barrier 14. This draw I believe suits Apache Cat best. Perhaps the conditions of this race favour the perennial crowd favourite Apache Cat.
And now we must balance the chances of these horses against local champion Sacred Kingdom. This Australian bred son of Encosta De Lago looked as though he may be slipping before his brilliant victory when defeating rising star Rocket Man in the Group One Krisflyer International Sprint in Singapore last May. Subsequently he too would travel to England to compete in the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes over 1200m and was beaten into 5th place by Art Connoisseur. In second place was US representative Cannonball who will be one of his rivals again..
This is truly a great sprint. It must surely be the best assembled field of sprinters anywhere in the world in season 2009 - although it does appear that Australia holds the key to the result.
Below is an overview of the field (Hong Kong Jockey Club press release):
Sacred Kingdom – Hong Kong’s champion sprinter, winner of this race in 2007 and the joint-highest rated sprinter in the world on current international ratings.
Scenic Blast – Australia’s Horse of the Year after three Gr.1 sprints in both hemispheres; will collect the US$1m Global Sprint Challenge bonus if he wins.
All Silent – Deeply impressive winning the Patinack Farm Classic earlier this month, his first of two Gr.1 wins down the Flemington straight.
Apache Cat – Hugely popular eight-time Gr.1 winner in Australia who tries to improve on his third-placed run in this race in 2008.
Total Gallery – Rapid progress this season to develop from high class handicapper to winner of the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.
Borderlescott – Ultra-consistent speedster who has won the last two editions of the Nunthorpe Stakes.
California Flag – America’s leading turf sprinter who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint earlier this month.
Inspiration – Shock winner of this race a year ago but proved it was far from a one-off with subsequent HKGr.1 and HKGr.3 victories.
Cannonball – American runner-up in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and recently a fast-finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Green Birdie – Runner-up in this race last year allied to successes in HKGr.2 and HKGr.3 events.
Laurel Guerreiro – Japan’s best sprinter having won both JRA Gr.1 sprints this year.
War Artist – Former topline sprinter in South Africa; Gr.2 and Gr.3 winner in Europe this summer and later third in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.
Joy And Fun –Dual Group winner in Hong Kong and third in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial.
One World – One of the most consistent top-level sprinters in Hong Kong who surely has a big prize within his capabilities.
My selections:
1 Apache Cat
2 All Silent
3 Sacred Kingdom
4 Scenic Blast
5 California Flag
Latest betting:
All Silent
4.40
Sacred Kingdom
4.60
Scenic Blast
6.50
Apache Cat
10.00
California Flag
10.00
Total Gallery
18.00
Inspiration
18.00
Laurel Guerreiro
18.00
Cannonball
19.00
Borderlescott
21.00
War Artist
21.00
Green Birdie
34.00
One World
41.00
| 55 |
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