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睇埋英文版會好d。:eee:
All to play for in Cathay Pacific International Mile, Sprint Trials
16 November 2007
With the announcement of the fields for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races just days away, tomorrow's final trials in the Sprint and Mile divisions assume a very definite sense of now or never.
Needless to say, both Gr.2 trials are top-heavy in terms of the quality of its participants - seven of HK's top-ten highest rated horses are present in the line-ups. The Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial accommodates the majority of this talent and the race heralds the return of the Horse of the Year, Vengeance Of Rain.
"I think he's come back in better form than before, but last year I was able to get two runs into him before the internationals - now it's just the one," said trainer David Ferraris.
"The preparation is not ideal, but what can you do? As for this race, all I want for him is to have a good, solid blow and finish well."
Asked whether a 'good, solid blow' would entail a finish somewhere around midfield, Ferraris replied: "No, I'll think he'll be closer than that."
Caspar Fownes is hoping for a similar performance from reigning title-holder The Duke who is facing the penultimate start of an illustrious career.
"We've taken the decision to retire him after international day," Fownes confirmed.
"It would break my heart if something were to go wrong with him after everything he's done for us and we want him to go out at the top and in style. This weekend's trial is about getting him spot-on for the big race when it's his fourth run of the season and at his best."
Good Ba Ba has scarcely put a foot wrong at this distance since switching to Andreas Schutz and the second-season trainer was delighted with his seasonal bow in the Sha Tin Trophy when second to track-record setting Down Town.
"If you look at how the weights are framed from that race to this, he looks pretty well treated. His barrier trial last week was good and the barrier in six will do. If I could get five per cent more than his last run I would be happy," Schutz remarked.
Tony Cruz, meanwhile, is "hopeful of getting better runs" for Floral Pegasus and Royal Prince after their below-par campaign debuts last month.
"I can't complain with their inside draws and both are in good condition. Royal Prince returned with mucus first up but he's come back well and Floral Pegasus…well, I think you'll see a better run," Cruz predicted.
John Moore saddles four in the race with retained Darren Beadman on Joyful Winner. Explaining the riding decision, Moore said: "Darren was originally going to ride Danacourt, but we changed our mind in the best interests of him winning the race. There's always the worry that Danacourt could 'bounce' second-up after a long absence even though he has done everything well in his recent work," Moore said.
"The other factor is that Joyful Winner's last run was full of promise, he has come to hand much quicker than I expected and he's the pick of my four runners.
"We've also got Able One and Tiber in the race. Able One came back jarred up in his joints from his last run and they have had to be medicated. I think he's also a little over-classified after his win in the Champions Mile when it was just a brilliant ride from Mick Kinane that caught the others sleeping.
"As for Tiber, he'll run his race but this time he carries 123lbs not a 'postage stamp' of 111lbs," he concluded.
The Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial and the market will be dominated by Medic Power, Sacred Kingdom and Absolute Champion.
This will be only the second head-to-head between Medic Power and Sacred Kingdom with the score reading one-nil for the aforementioned. Sacred Kingdom, however, returned to the track the better of the pair when an easy winner of the Sha Tin Sprint Trophy and, according to his trainer, his build-up remains trouble-free.
"The horse is in great form," Ricky Yiu said. "I was very happy with his trial last week and he has drawn a good gate. I've got a good jockey and I'll leave it up to him now!"
Trainer Paul O'Sullivan and Medic Power haven't met with any hitches either; quite the opposite, in fact.
"Medic Power has just been doing his work as normal and he's fine. I can't really say that he's going to come on for his first run, because to look at him you couldn't say that race affected him either way," O'Sullivan observed.
"If he'd been the only horse to finish off from the back of the field in the Premier Bowl I'd have been delighted but Absolute Champion did exactly the same. Here he hasn't got the best gate in eight so I'm hoping Brett can get him into position where he isn't three-wide," he added.
Scintillation trialled well last week but has to overcome a wide gate, so if there is to be a surprise in the Sprint Trial it may stem from Sunny Sing, according to John Moore.
"He has had some foot problems so we tried different shoes on him the other day and Darren worked him and said he had improved out of sight. Because of that I think we can expect plenty of improvement from his first two runs," Moore said.
Members of the public (must be aged 18 or above) who has a Vengeance Of Rain Octopus Card, which was issued in May, will be granted free admission to the Public Enclosure of Sha Tin Racecourse via the designated gates this Saturday, 17 November.
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