Few to rule out in most open Derby for years
HKJC Press Release
11-Mar-2010 |
The HK$ 16 million Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby has a 133-year history, but few renewals of the great race can have produced quite as much diversity of opinion about the likely outcome. If it looked an open and shut case before last year's triumph by Collection, this year with at least half a dozen contenders - two of them still unbeaten - already inspiring strong confidence, and almost every other runner requiring only a modicum of optimism to imagine him getting into contention, it is anything but.
Even the extent to which today's barrier draw clarified the mystery is a matter for debate, with a clutch of the most talked about protagonists drawn in positions about which their connections could hardly complain. Tony Cruz, a Derby winner four times as a jockey and twice since as a trainer, was more than happy with the draw in 2 of Beauty Flash; and with Frankie Dettori, one of the great front running jockeys of all time flying in from Dubai to take over the ride from the suspended Christophe Soumillon, there must be a strong temptation for the highest rated horse in the field just to be go on and find out what the others have got.
"He can jump from anywhere," said a contented Cruz, seldom one to divulge tactical masterplans. "He's got more speed than any other horse in the race, but it's always good to be on the inside if you want to take up a good position early."
Next barrier in 3 will be Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial winner King Dancer, with whose draw trainer Sean Woods was also perfectly happy. "He's been here a while now," said Woods of his UK import. "He's learnt a bit of track skill, and I think he'll get the 2000m well."
King Dancer's jockey Gerald Mosse expressed similar satisfaction: "It's always good to be drawn in the first five because that makes it easier to get a good position when you want to ride handy. He used to prefer coming from behind, but I'll just see how the race pans out and ride him accordingly. He won't mind a fast pace as he's a real 2000m horse, but he doesn't have to have that, and I'll go with my own judgement when I see the way the race is being run".
Just outside the pair in barrier 4 though will be the John Size trained Brave Kid, still to taste defeat in six starts and bidding to become the first in Hong Kong racing history to win seven races in a single season. "He doesn't win by big margins," said Size of his son of Elusive City, who has yet to race beyond 1800m. "But he enjoys a fight and if the stamina holds out for the full 2000m he's going to be hard to beat."
Super Pistachio's draw in 6 and Super Satin's in Gate 7 also pleased their trainers.
Odd one out among the leading fancies, however, is the other unbeaten contender Fair Trade, whose trainer, champion Caspar Fownes, like Sean Woods and five time champion John Size, is looking for his first Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby winner. Fownes didn't grimace when the number 14 was called, but he certainly didn't smile either. "Bit frustrating" was his comment afterwards. "But you've got to take what comes. No, it won't necessarily affect the way he's ridden. I'll keep the tactics under my hat, but as long as the pace is there and the race is run at a good tempo it shouldn't be a problem," Fownes said.
There are any number of sub plots in this most intriguingly open of classics: Fair Trade's fine comeback from a leg injury; the enigma of German 2000 Guineas winner Irian, so promising in two starts on the track, relatively disappointing in a subsequent barrier trial, although Moore found an explanation in that "he had a gutful of mucous, but we've tested him since and there's no infection"; and, not least, the participation in his first Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby of last year's champion apprentice and this season's leading local jockey, the youthful Matthew Chadwick, who will need all his precocious skill to get Straight Forward home in front from the number 12 stall.
Five trainers, 14 horses between them, fascinating story, with a $16 million denouement that's still anyone's guess. Find out how it ends on Sunday. |
| |
| |
| |
| Back To News |
|
