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Viva Pataca left his fans with one unavoidable conclusion after a ruthless dismissal of top class opposition in the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial on Sunday - he is going to take all the beating in the Turf World Championships in four weeks' time.
Trainer John Moore and owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun have yet to decide whether to |
opt for the HK$20 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup over today's distance of 2000m or the HK$14 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase of 2400m.
The fact is the Marju five-year-old is eminently capable of winning either race on 9 December and, disconcertingly for potential rivals, Moore believes he is not yet in peak condition.
Jockey Darren Beadman, maintaining a scorching recent run of success with Moore, settled Viva Pataca in his favoured position with cover in midfield through the first half of this Gr.2 trial and edged a fraction closer turning into the home straight.
A few strides later, Douglas Whyte drove second pick Packing Winner to the lead, but the South African's heart would have sank with the sight of a motionless Beadman looming upsides on the odds-on favourite a furlong out and then putting the race to bed with a few determined cracks of the whip. The winning margin was a length with a neck back to Art Trader, also trained by Moore, in third.
"Viva Pataca is the best horse in Hong Kong and that was a very impressive win. I'm looking forward the internationals although I still have to discuss with Dr Ho which race to go for. The main thing for now is that in Viva Pataca we have a horse that will be in peaking on the day," Moore said.
"He's made a mess of that field under a 5lb penalty and that was a strong line-up. I just want people to come out and support him next month because he's an international champion."
Incidentally, David Ferraris, trainer of another locally trained international champion, Vengeance Of Rain, said his stable star is more likely to contest the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase in four weeks.
"Everything has gone well since he has come back from New Zealand but I'm thinking that a run in the Cup would be too much for him after just one prep run over a mile next weekend," Ferraris said. "I think the Vase over 2400m will suit him better."
Meanwhile, a run on the Cup now looks firmly on the agenda for today's runner-up Packing Winner who proved he is up to highest level on his first foray out of Class 2.
"I'm delighted with that performance," a relieved trainer Peter Ho smiled. "He had it all to do with Viva Pataca at the weights and finished in front of a lot of good horses. It's no shame to run second to Viva Pataca because he's one of the best in the world."
摩廄另一參賽馬「詩情畫意」在鄭雨滇胯下後上強勁，僅以一條頸位屈居韋達策騎的「包裝大師」之下，以冷門身份跑入第三名。與「爆冷」同屬何鴻燊博士名下的「爆炸」，沿途居於領放馬之後的前列位置，末段墮退至第六名。
約翰摩亞與何鴻燊博士尚未決定讓「爆冷」出戰途程同樣為二千米的國泰航空香港盃抑或二千四百米的國泰航空香港瓶。事實上，這匹「馬足」五歲子嗣無論選擇其中任何一場賽事，都有舉足輕重的份量。大摩說，馬兒目前尚未達到巔峰狀態。
「『爆冷』是香港最佳現役馬，今日的表現亦令人印象深刻。下一個目標自然是國際賽，雖然我仍需與何博士商量以哪一場為目標，但目前最重要的任務是確保馬兒屆時能以巔峰狀態出戰。希望大家到時一起來替牠打氣！」約翰摩亞說。
另一方面，霍利時透露其杜拜司馬經典賽冠軍「爪皇凌雨」多數會角逐國泰航空香港瓶。「馬兒自紐西蘭回來後，一切良好。不過我覺得，牠在久休後，只於下週末跑一場一哩賽後就去跑香港盃，可能是一個太過艱辛的任務，二千四百米的香港瓶會更為適合。」霍利時道。
「包裝大師」今日首次在高於二班賽的賽事中跑第二，證明了牠的級數，國泰航空香港盃看來已是牠下一個目標的不二之選。「我對牠今日的表現很滿意，在蝕磅給『爆冷』的情況下，牠能夠在許多強勁的對手之前過終點，僅輸給世界頂尖馬匹之一的『爆冷』，可謂雖敗猶榮。」心情極佳的練馬師何良道。
