Overflow Field for Classic Mile

[Wandering Eyes]

The road to the HK$18-million BMW Hong Kong Derby kicks off Sunday with the first leg of the series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile, and while he is fully 12 points clear on the ratings, there are some questions about Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}), who figures to take plenty of action at the windows.

Like many a Classics aspirant over the last several years, Dark Dream left his hoofprints over the G1 Queensland Derby last season, winning that 2200-metre event, and he has made an immediate impression in Hong Kong. Third in a contentious Class 2 over 1600m on International Day Dec. 9, he exploded late to win a 2000-metre Class 2 with something left in the locker Dec. 23. The obvious concern Sunday is the drop back to the metric mile, a fact that is not lost on trainer Frankie Lor.

“His form is good, the only thing is he’s back to 1600 metres which may be a little bit short for him but we need to try,” Lor, who will saddle a record five runners in the race, told HKJC’s David Morgan.

Silvestre de Sousa will have to work out a trip from gate 12, while Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) is drawn even further out in 14. Winner of three from four when trained by Andrew Balding as Urban Secret in England, the bay belied odds of 28-1 to take his local debut in Class 2 in front-running fashion over the track and trip Jan. 6. He clocked a smart :22.03 for his final two furlongs to account for the re-opposing Easy Go Easy Win (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and the improving Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}).

“Everyone said I got a slow, easy lead but he’s a good horse–to run that fast sectional at his first start means he’s a good horse,” jockey Vincent Ho said. “He can only improve, he’s still young and very green so if he can improve, he should handle the gate.”

Superich (NZ) (Red Giant) turned in a pair of tough efforts in Class 2 in his two most recent runs, most recently going down by a neck to Mr So and So (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) over 1400m Dec. 29. The Lor-trained Superich will be ridden by leading jockey Zac Purton, while Joao Moreira returns in the saddle on Mr So and So for John Size, who had won his previous start under 133 pounds in Class 3.

Though he sits on a rating of just 81, Green Luck (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), a latest second as the favourite going the extended mile trip at Happy Valley, is a live longshot according to trainer Caspar Fownes.

“Being just 4-year-olds in the race, some will run better than their ratings suggest. If he’s not hassled and sits there in midfield, he’ll run well,” said Fownes, who won the 2011 Classic Mile with future superstar sprinter Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

 

View the full article