|
暫時 SCMP 果度有最新配搭
君皇鷹 - 馬偉昌
首飾奇寶 - 韋達
確叻迅 - 巫斯義
自由好 - 蘇銘倫
羅馬 - 柏寶
新力高 - 普萊西
再豐裕 - 杜利萊
色彩傳奇 - 潘頓
喜威寶 - 戴勝
An embarrassment of riches for champion jockey Douglas Whyte has led to excellent opportunities for Olivier Doleuze and Zac Purton in Sunday's Group One Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile at Sha Tin.
Whyte is the regular rider of three prominent Classic Mile aspirants - Unique Jewellery, Legend Of Colour and More Bountiful - and his decision to go with Unique Jewellery will be a powerful lead for the betting public.
But that has left the rides on two serious winning chances up for grabs. Trainer John Size has snapped up flamboyant Frenchman Doleuze for ultra-consistent More Bountiful and Paul O'Sullivan secured Zac Purton for brilliant last-start winner Legend Of Colour.
"It wasn't an easy decision because they are three nice horses and they are all in top form," Whyte said yesterday.
"John [Size] has helped me a bit in coming to this decision, and Unique Jewellery has given me an incredible feel on a number of occasions. So, no, it hasn't been straightforward and I don't take either of the other two horses lightly. If Legend Of Colour turns up in the same sort of form on Sunday as he showed last start, he'll be one of the hard horses to beat, for sure.
"And a horse as consistent and genuine as More Bountiful must always be respected."
Purton said he was thrilled to secure the ride on Legend Of Colour, having chased the ride soon after the Kaapstad gelding won a Class Three impressively on New Year's Day under topweight of 133 pounds.
"I loved the turn of foot he showed that day, and I thought Douglas might be committed to Unique Jewellery, so I contacted Paul and asked if I could ride him," Purton said. "I'm thrilled to get the ride, and he looks to have a great chance."
More Bountiful, a progressive and slightly understated four-year-old, has won his last five starts. Doleuze had the choice of More Bountiful and the David Ferraris-trained Fleet Command, who will now be ridden by Gerald Mosse.
Christophe Soumillon arrives from France tomorrow and will resume from suspension on Sunday. He's been booked for Panasonic Cup winner Thumbs Up, who was disappointing in a barrier trial last Tuesday when handled by Howard Cheng Yue-tin.
Brett Prebble will take over on Roma Pegasus for in-form trainer Almond Lee Yee-tat. Roma Pegasus ran a good third to O'Reilly Rally and Express Win, and performed with distinction in Group Ones in Australia as a three-year-old and should not have any trouble measuring up.
The John Moore-trained Kings Falcon is the highest-rated runner in the Classic Mile and impressed with an easy win in a 1,050m trial at Sha Tin last week.
In the absence of injured stable jockey Darren Beadman, the ride on Kings Falcon has gone to Weichong Marwing.
Stablemate Sunny Golf, a revelation on the dirt this season, will also take his chance in the first Group One race of 2009 and will be piloted by Mark du Plessis.
[ 本帖最後由 asiadragon 於 13/1/2009 03:30 PM 編輯 ]
|
