Who will win the Hong Kong Cup? The Final Field
Meet Hon. Harry Herbert, founder of Royal Ascot Racing Club at the Shanghai Race Club members party on Sunday 11th Dec in Shanghai and view the winning of the Hong Kong Cup – live.
So, the day is almost upon us – and on Sunday a top class field of ten will compete for the last major Horse Racing trophy of 2011, The Hong Kong Cup. Here are the runners, with saddlecloth numbers – plus the verdict on where this illustrious prize is heading.
1. Cirrus Des Aigles, owned by Jean-Claude-Alain Dupouy, Cirrus Des Aigles won the British Champions Stakes at Ascot on his previous start, beating So You Think. That form looks exceptional in the context of this race, but the horse only managed 7th place in this race and 9th place in the Japan Cup last year, so there is a slight question mark over his ability to reproduce his best after a long-haul flight.
2. Ambitious Dragon, owned by Johnson Lam Pui Hung, Ambitious Dragon is the winner of the 2011 Hong Kong Derby and the QEII Cup, victories that made the 2011 Hong Kong Horse Of The Year a formality. Suffered a surprise defeat in the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Mile, his prep race for this, but nothing went right for him that day and he looked the best horse in the race by some margin. Looks a very strong contender for the home team.
3. Byword – owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Byword is a former winner of the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and he defeated Cirrus Des Aigles in this season’s Prix Dollar, albeit in receipt of weight. Latest effort in the Breeders’ Cup Mile was a disappointment and he needs to bounce right back to his best if he is to win this.
4. Durban Thunder, owned by Stall Tinsdal, this German raider won a weak Group over 10f in Munich back in July, but struggled when last seen at Longchamp, where he finished last behind Byword in the Prix Dollar. Likes to lead and possibly needs soft ground to show his best, but overall he looks a class below the leading contenders here.
5. Irian, owned by Siu Pak Kwan, this Hong Kong trained horse finished second in this race last season behind Snow Fairy, but this season’s form has been less spectacular, with his best run coming last time when third in the trial for this race, the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Cup. Looks to have a place chance at best.
6. California Memory, owned by Howard Liang Yum Shing, this grey gelding finished 4th in the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Cup, but looked unfortunate in running and is probably the strongest contender to emerge from that race. Had previously recorded top class form when winning the Sha Tin Trophy here over a mile. Looks a contender.
7. Zazou, owned by WH International, Zazou is another German raider and he comes here on the back of a Group 1 win – albeit a weak Italian one. Most of his best form is on soft ground and he will need to show significant improvement if he is to trouble the leading contenders.
8. Ransom Note, owned by Raymond Mould, Ransom Note is a front running horse, whose finest hour came when winning the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket. Overall level of form leaves him with a bit to find and unlikely to get an uncontested lead with Durban Thunder also in the line up.
9. Pure Champion, owned by Mr+Mrs Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Kameny Wong Kam Man, Pure Champion was formerly known as Steinbeck when racing for Aidan O’Brien and was his best regarded 2yo back in 2009. Didn’t fulfil that potential in Europe but signs that he might start to in Hong Kong and his last effort when second to Thumbs Up in the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Cup was arguably a career best. Further progress could see him make the frame here.
10. Jacobee, owned by the Olympic syndicate, this 4yo’s career highlight came when landing a Group 3 over 9 furlongs here in October. However, overall level of form leaves him with plenty to find and was well beaten in the Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Mile last time.
Verdict: Cirrus Des Aigles is undoubtedly a very classy horse, but after two moderate runs in Asia last season, there has to be a doubt about his ability to reproduce his best after a long journey. The likelihood is that he will struggle to beat the local hero AMBITIOUS DRAGON (above). The Hong Kong Horse Of The Year has just kept on improving this season and even though he only finished second in his trial race, he lost nothing in defeat and heads into this race in peak form. Of his opponents, local rivals California Memory and Pure Champion both look strong contenders for a place.
Leave a Reply