Overseas Entrants In With A Shout on Champions Day

[Wandering Eyes]

History was made during December’s Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting, as for the first time, the home team swept all four Group 1 events. The locals figure a collective tough nut to crack at Sunday’s FWD Champions Day meeting at Sha Tin, but the foreign contingent are a good bet to make their presence felt by day’s end.

Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) won the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December, battling back gamely inside of Japan’s Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) to cement his status as the region’s top stayer. Since her runner-up effort, the plan has always been for Lys Gracieux to return to Hong Kong for the QE II and she tuned up for the HK$24-million test with a very sound second to the very talented Danon Premium (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Kinko Sho last month.

Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) covered herself in glory on her last visit to the New Territories, running loose-on-the-lead Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko) to a length in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup and she exits a meritorious fourth to Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 30. The eye-catching Win Bright (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) got the better of Deirdre in a successful title defence in the G2 Nakayama Kinen Feb. 24 and be a factor from reasonably close range. Japanese-based runners have won the QE II four times this century and twice since 2012.

In addition to Exultant, Hong Kong is represented by ‘TDN Rising Star‘ and 2018 QE II hero Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), Hong Kong Derby winner Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), to be ridden once again by Hugh Bowman and the beaten Derby favourite Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}).

The G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize lost some of its intrigue when top local hope Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was withdrawn Saturday, but it remains a high-class test, headed by Australia’s Santa Ana Lane (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Like Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), breathtaking winner of the 2016 Chairman’s Sprint Prize, the 6-year-old gelding will look to parlay a victory in the G1 T J Smith S. into success at Sha Tin. Viddora (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) was a respectable fourth to Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint last month and was passed fit to run Saturday after suffering some lameness issues earlier in the week. Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}), third in this event last year and a Group 1 winner since, looks the best of the Sha Tin-based gallopers.

The G1 FWD Champions Mile has attracted no foreign entrants, and with good reason, as Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) is a money-back proposition to win the race for the second year running. A victory, as expected, could lead to an appearance in the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Toyko in early June and a must-see match-up with the aforementioned Danon Premium. The reigning Horse of the Year in Hong Kong, Beauty Generation shoots for nine in a row Sunday afternoon.

 

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