Hong Kong Vase 2008
December 7th 2008 12:05
When Douro Valley contests the Hong Kong Vase on December the 14th he will be Danny O’Brien’s first international representative. But just as the European trainers have been watching and examining Australian racing - and the type of racehorse best suited to the conditions - so has Danny O’Brien been studying racing in Hong Kong.
(photo: Julian Smith)
Before leaving Melbourne on an exceptionally light Spring preparation Douro Valley had success in the Group One Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield over 2000m - defeating a quality field with Pompeii Ruler 2nd; Guillotine 3rd; and Melbourne Cup placegetter C’Est La Guerre 4th. He would then fail after being without luck in the Caulfield Cup over 2400m, before bouncing back and suffering a narrow defeat in the Group 2 Sandown Classic behind Zipping.
Douro Valley will be the second highest rated runner in the field (rated on 117 - with only Doctor Dino on 119 rated above him). Unlike many past entries from Australia who would compete at the end of a Spring campaign, Douro Valley is placed to peak when he arrives in Hong Kong. This trip is definitely no afterthought. It is a target.
And as O’Brien has matched horse to race - as has the unlucky Luca Cumani in selecting horses for a Melbourne Cup - Douro Valley has many of the attributes required for success at Hong Kong.
Douro Valley is a natural on-speed horse. In the 2007 Caulfield Cup (behind his stablemate Master O’Reilly) he raced on the speed and would easily beat home subsequent Melbourne Cup runner-up (and opponent again in this year’s Hong Kong Vase) Purple Moon. Racing on the speed is a big advantage in Hong Kong racing - and typically the Vase may not suit backmarkers.
Douro Valley will now have the services of Darren Beadman who is very adept at riding Sha Tin racecourse. Beadman is currently in second position in the Hong Kong Jockeys’ title. The only other time Beadman has ridden Douro Valley was in September of 2007 when Douro Valley defeated the Cox Plate winner of 2008, Maldivian, over 2000m in the Listed Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield.
“I don’t think racing right handed will be a major issue. He’s an adaptable horse and he’s only had the three tries…the first two were OK and the most recent was on heavy ground in a very strong race where he missed the start.”
“These races are never easy to win but I think this will suit him. I’ve kept a close eye on the Hong Kong internationals in recent years – especially the Vase – and I think he’s the right type of horse.”
“The program has worked out well for him. We gave him four weeks off between the Caulfield Cup and his last run at Sandown where he was just nosed out and now it’s another four weeks break before the Vase,” - Danny O’Brien.
Latest odds with Sportingbet:
Doctor Dino 4
Packing Winner 5
Buccellati 6
Muhannak 7.5
Purple Moon 11
Douro Valley 12
Jackpot Delight 12
Mores Wells 14
Jagauar Mail 14
Poseidon Adventure 19
The Bogberry 21
Mourilyan 31
Ambitious General 51
The 2007 Hong Kong Vase was won by Doctor Dino, who will be lining up for consecutive victories. Last year he defeated Quijano by 1 1/2 lengths, with Bussoni a further 1/4 of a length away 3rd. Doctor Dino started at 8/1. The 2007 Hong Kong Vase boasted a vintage field, with 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Red Rocks starting second favourite at 6/1 - while the favourite was the European Horse Of The Year, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Dylan Thomas. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Dylan Thomas would start at 7/10 and finish a disappointing 7th in his final race before retirement. But he had arrived in Hong Kong at the very end of an arduous, though very successful year. This is a lesson well learned by the Australian O'Brien.
I think Douro Valley is well placed to be very competitive. Perhaps a debut international victory for the talented O'Brien.
1 Douro Valley
2 Doctor Dino
3 Purple Moon
4 Packing Winner
Replay of the 2007 Hong Kong Vase (Group One):
(photo: Julian Smith)
Douro Valley in the blue colours finishing 2nd behind stablemate Master O’Reilly in the 2007 Caulfield Cup
Before leaving Melbourne on an exceptionally light Spring preparation Douro Valley had success in the Group One Yalumba Stakes at Caulfield over 2000m - defeating a quality field with Pompeii Ruler 2nd; Guillotine 3rd; and Melbourne Cup placegetter C’Est La Guerre 4th. He would then fail after being without luck in the Caulfield Cup over 2400m, before bouncing back and suffering a narrow defeat in the Group 2 Sandown Classic behind Zipping.
Douro Valley will be the second highest rated runner in the field (rated on 117 - with only Doctor Dino on 119 rated above him). Unlike many past entries from Australia who would compete at the end of a Spring campaign, Douro Valley is placed to peak when he arrives in Hong Kong. This trip is definitely no afterthought. It is a target.
And as O’Brien has matched horse to race - as has the unlucky Luca Cumani in selecting horses for a Melbourne Cup - Douro Valley has many of the attributes required for success at Hong Kong.
Douro Valley is a natural on-speed horse. In the 2007 Caulfield Cup (behind his stablemate Master O’Reilly) he raced on the speed and would easily beat home subsequent Melbourne Cup runner-up (and opponent again in this year’s Hong Kong Vase) Purple Moon. Racing on the speed is a big advantage in Hong Kong racing - and typically the Vase may not suit backmarkers.
Douro Valley will now have the services of Darren Beadman who is very adept at riding Sha Tin racecourse. Beadman is currently in second position in the Hong Kong Jockeys’ title. The only other time Beadman has ridden Douro Valley was in September of 2007 when Douro Valley defeated the Cox Plate winner of 2008, Maldivian, over 2000m in the Listed Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield.
“I don’t think racing right handed will be a major issue. He’s an adaptable horse and he’s only had the three tries…the first two were OK and the most recent was on heavy ground in a very strong race where he missed the start.”
“These races are never easy to win but I think this will suit him. I’ve kept a close eye on the Hong Kong internationals in recent years – especially the Vase – and I think he’s the right type of horse.”
“The program has worked out well for him. We gave him four weeks off between the Caulfield Cup and his last run at Sandown where he was just nosed out and now it’s another four weeks break before the Vase,” - Danny O’Brien.
Latest odds with Sportingbet:
Doctor Dino 4
Packing Winner 5
Buccellati 6
Muhannak 7.5
Purple Moon 11
Douro Valley 12
Jackpot Delight 12
Mores Wells 14
Jagauar Mail 14
Poseidon Adventure 19
The Bogberry 21
Mourilyan 31
Ambitious General 51
The 2007 Hong Kong Vase was won by Doctor Dino, who will be lining up for consecutive victories. Last year he defeated Quijano by 1 1/2 lengths, with Bussoni a further 1/4 of a length away 3rd. Doctor Dino started at 8/1. The 2007 Hong Kong Vase boasted a vintage field, with 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Red Rocks starting second favourite at 6/1 - while the favourite was the European Horse Of The Year, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Dylan Thomas. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Dylan Thomas would start at 7/10 and finish a disappointing 7th in his final race before retirement. But he had arrived in Hong Kong at the very end of an arduous, though very successful year. This is a lesson well learned by the Australian O'Brien.
I think Douro Valley is well placed to be very competitive. Perhaps a debut international victory for the talented O'Brien.
1 Douro Valley
2 Doctor Dino
3 Purple Moon
4 Packing Winner
Replay of the 2007 Hong Kong Vase (Group One):
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