Spangle Vs Rising In Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Hong Kong sprinter extraordinaire Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) headlines the HK$13-million G1 Queen's Silver jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Trained by David Hayes for the Ka Ying Syndicate, the likeable gelding is operating on a nine-race winning streak, and had the re-opposing Helios Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) and Howdeepisyourlove (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) second and third when he took the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup last month over his pet distance of 1200 metres. The world's highest rated turf sprinter in 2024, the gelding will be partnered with Karis Teetan for the first time in his 12-race career, and the duo leave from gate nine. Regular rider Zac Purton is sidelined by a toe injury sustained in a three-horse fall on Feb. 10.

Defending champ and 2024 Hong Kong Champion Sprinter California Spangle (Aus) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) is looking for a return to form, but has picked a tough spot for it. After his win in this race a year ago, he took his show on the road with a successful foray to Meydan and added the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in March, but he's been winless in five additional starts. Patch Of Theta (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) defeated the gelding in the G3 Challenge Cup on New Year's Day, and Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Galaxy Patch (Aus) (Wandjina {Aus}), and Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) ran one-two-three when they met in the Jan. 19 G1 Stewards' Cup going a mile. The Tony Cruz trainee was unplaced in each of those efforts.

“You saw the barrier trial, he's back in business. The trial was good and the jockey was very happy with him,” Cruz said of the gelding, whose chances of defending his Al Quoz title hinge on this start. “His condition compared to last season is not as good, so we'll make a decision after the race on Sunday. Let's see the outcome before we decide on Dubai.”

Last year's 2024 G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize hero Invincible Sage (Aus) (Thronum {Aus}) is aiming for his second top-level ring and leaves from stall three in the nine-horse field. He was fourth to Ka Ying Rising in the Centenary Sprint Cup.

Gold Cup Up For Grabs

With Hong Kong poster boy Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) trying dirt for the first time in the $20-million 1800-metre G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh the day prior with James McDonald in the irons, the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup is a fairly open race. Multiple Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble will try for four-in-a-row and has the services of McDonald, who will arriving fresh from Riyadh on Saturday. Second to Galaxy Patch in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy over 1600 metres in October, the son of Deep Field has not lost since, taking the G1 Hong Kong Mile over Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), and Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit) on Dec. 8. He added the aforementioned Stewards' Cup over several of these at a mile on Jan. 19.

Of Chancheng Glory, reigning Hong Kong Champion Trainer Francis Lui said, “Chancheng Glory is also in good form. He's maintained his form, so we hope he can run well.”

A dual champion trainer in Hong Kong, Cruz is sending a three-pronged attack against Voyage Bubble in Five G Patch (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), La City Blanch (Arg) (Cityscape {GB}) and Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich {Ire}) in the 2000-metre feature. The trio break from gates 10, two, and three, respectively.

“They're all ready for the race. They're all 2000 metres and above horses, but I'm happy with their condition going into the race,” Cruz said.

Dirt Horses To The Fore In February Stakes

With some of Japan's best and brightest dirt horses contending for Saudi Cup honours, the way is clear to crown one of the 16 locals entered in the 1600-metre G1 February Stakes at Tokyo on Sunday. One of the rising stars of the dirt ranks is Group 3 winner Costa Nova (Jpn), who has won all five of his starts over the local dirt, including the 1400-metre G3 Negishi Stakes earlier this month. That was the Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) 5-year-old entire's first attempt in group company, and on Sunday, the waters get even deeper.

Assistant trainer Yu Ota said, “Things were a bit tight on the turn for home in the Negishi Stakes, but he showed what he could do by running on well to win comfortably. He came out of the race with no tiredness, and it wasn't long before he was training again as usual.”

With the absence of Saudi-Cup bound Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Meisho Hario (Jpn) is hoping to go one better than his second at the hands of that rival in the Listed JBC Classic at Saga in November. He's in with a chance, as he rolled a pair of threes in both the 2022 G1 Tokyo Daishoten, and in the 2023 edition of this race behind Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid).

   Mikki Fight (Jpn) (Drefong), too, holds a formline with a Saudi Cup hopeful. In his case, the G3 Leopard Stakes hero was second in the Listed Japan Dirt Classic to Group 1 scorer Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) in October, before he improved to land the Listed Nagoya Daishoten over 2000 metres on Dec. 19.

Assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki said, “He's had his usual routine, returning to the stable a month ago. He was plus 14kg for his last race, so we've just been training him accordingly and checking his weight. Since some time ago, we thought he would become a better horse, and he's developing well.”

The 2025 edition of the February Stakes also features the 2024 one-two of Peptide Nile (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). The former would be only the second 7-year-old to win the race since Roman Prince (Jpn) (Bravest Roman) in 1988.

Trainer Hidenori Take, who said, “He maintained his form in the latter half of last year, and even though the Champions Cup was a tough race, he managed to finish fifth. I think he can run well with just the one turn over 1600 metres even if the field is bunched together more.”

Emperor Wakea (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is a track-and-trip winner of the G3 Tokyo Chunichi Hai on Nov. 9. His fitness is a slight question mark, as that was the last time the Listed Enif Stakes hero was seen in action. Sunday Funday (Jpn) (Suzuka Causeway {Jpn}) is also coming off a group win after taking the G2 Procyon Stakes at Chukyo on Jan. 26.

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