Hong Kong action for former Ballydoyle pair
Nicholas Godfrey, Racing Post
30-Jan-2010 |
Sha Tin: Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile (Group 1) 1M, Turf, 4yo
You may struggle to notice from looking at the racecard, but a pair of former Ballydoyle-trained Classic contenders are in action on Sunday in a crucial Derby trial - in Hong Kong.
Westphalia, who won the Champagne Stakes before finishing third in a pair of French Classics, is joined by last year's Dante Stakes runner-up Freemantle in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile at Sha Tin, where they are representing new trainer Tony Cruz.
However, their names have now been changed to Super Pistachio (Westphalia) and Straight Forward (Freemantle) for their four-year-old careers in Hong Kong.
Felix Coetzee rides the son of Danehill Dancer formerly known as Westphalia, while star apprentice Matt Chadwick is on the old "Freemantle" in this first leg of the Hong Kong four-year-old series and a major trial for the Hong Kong Derby on March 14, the most prestigious race on the domestic calendar.
Cruz, looking for his record-breaking seventh Hong Kong Derby success, may have an even better chance with top-rated Beauty Flash, who is attempting overcome the outside gate under Christophe Soumillon.
>>Trainer John Moore has chosen another route for German Guineas winner Irian, who will make his debut in Hong Kong over 1400m in a Class 1 race on Sunday, January 31st.. |
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