Queen's Silver Jubilee a feast in its own right
HKJC Press Release
12-Mar-2010 |
Scarcely less intriguing than the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby itself, the HK Group 1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m, which precedes the big race, offers fans another fascinating puzzle into which to sink their forensic teeth.
Heading the field are the three likely favourites: confirmed member of the 1400m elite Egyptian Ra; brilliant sprinter Happy Zero, who may yet develop into a top miler himself, and Fellowship, already a winner in the top flight at 1600m but perhaps at even more formidable opponent at the 200m shorter trip.
As might be expected, given the main protagonists different qualifications, much will depend on how the race is run. If regular front runner Egyptian Ra gets away on terms for Felix Coetzee and is allowed to dictate the pace, he could be very difficult to peg back, even by a horse with the finishing kick of Happy Zero. If, however, Egyptian Ra finds himself harried for the lead by the other possible pacesetter, Regency Dragon, then the resulting speed duel could set things up for Fellowship, who may have fractionally more stamina than Happy Zero and at this intermediate distance is possessor of immense finishing speed of his own.
Connections of both the main threats to the front runners are bullish about their horses' chances. "He's really good and has come on well after his last race. He hasn't taken a backward step," says jockey Darren Beadman of Happy Zero, whom trainer John Moore describes as "one of the fastest horses on the planet".
"He'd had a few setbacks before his last race," continues Beadman of Happy Zero, who has a victory over Sacred Kingdom to his credit in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial, but who faltered near the finish last time out in the Chairman's Sprint Prize. "However, the 1-2 are top graders who were much fitter and more seasoned, and now he's had that run he's cherry ripe".
Trainer Paul O'Sullivan is equally confident of the condition of Fellowship who, after a string of near misses, broke his HK Group 1 drought in the Stewards' Cup. "If they run at a good speed he'll be steaming home at the end," says the New Zealander.
Jockey Zac Purton is equally enthusiastic: "He's going great, getting better all the time. It's a bit of a shame we drew the outside, but in a small field that shouldn't make too much difference and I just hope they go a good gallop as his ideal trip is probably 1500m - if only they ran races at that distance." Purton said.
A classic confrontation between pace and stamina to anticipate then, and a three way confrontation at that with no absolute certainty about which contender currently possesses the biggest store of either quality; but the 2010 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup isn't quite a three horse race.
Caspar Fownes, trainer of HKJC Racing Club's Young Elite, winner of six of his 12 races but returning for the first time since he bled when beaten by Collection over 2000m in the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial in November, is realistic about his chances saying "It's just good to have him back on the track. The top three look very strong and I'll be happy if he's just able to run on into fourth." Fownes said.
But the champion will not have completely given up hope of exploiting any weakness in one or even all of 'the big three'. Nor will John Size and Douglas Whyte, trainer and jockey of last year's Champions Mile victor Sight Winner, who is likely to be looking for a slot just behind the leaders in the ideal position to pounce if, or when, the opportunity presents. |
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