Search
where the horse is always the hero
Article Item
Posted 2009-04-21 08:59:16  
PATACA LIKELY FAVOURITE FOR BIG RACE

Hong Kong's leading trainer John Moore professed himself delighted with Tuesday's trackwork by Viva Pataca, the likely favourite for the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup this weekend.

Ridden by regular rider Darren Beadman, Viva Pataca worked on the all weather track with work companion Grand Cru in his final serious hit-out for the race he won two years ago. Turf Timers clocked the final 400m at 22.7 sec.

"Darren said it was just about the best work he's ever done on the dirt. He's never really enjoyed that surface as much as the turf so to have worked so well in the lead-up to the big race on Sunday is very encouraging," Moore reported.

"I've been very happy with his preparation and he came out of the Chairman's Trophy over the mile last time very well indeed. He's fresh and well and if he gets some luck on Sunday he'll be right there as he always is."

In 2007 Moore added the Champions Mile to Viva Pataca's APQEII success with Able One and he has a live chance of repeating the feat this year via Collection, the impressive victor of last month's Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby.

The fact that Collection drops back in distance by two furlongs does not overly concern Moore who likened the Peintre Celebre's gelding turn of foot to "a Ferrari moving up the gears."

"I worked him at the weekend and he was terrific – he broke 11 seconds for his final 200m. He can really shift and I think he'll be able to test Good Ba Ba over the mile. I'll probably give him one more piece tomorrow or the next day," Moore concluded.

It's probably quite instructive that Good Ba Ba's trainer Andreas Schutz rates Collection as the biggest danger between the Horse of the Year's seventh career Gr.1 and second successive Champions Mile.

Good Ba Ba's final searching gallop prior to Sunday's third leg of the Asian Mile Challenge came on Monday on the turf and Schutz said the work was more than up to scratch for the race that will in all likelihood be his final assignment of the season.

"Everything is on schedule. I've had no hitches with him and we're back up to the mile and he has ten wins at the course and distance. I guess he's still the one to beat but I would rate Collection as a big danger. His Derby win was excellent and he has the pace to cope with coming back in distance," Schutz said.

The former Hong Kong-based but now Australian-trained Dao Dao sizzled in his workout on the turf course this morning and it is likely to be his final strong gallop before Sunday's Champions Mile.

The powerfully built five-year-old rounded off his gallop in a solid 49.6 sec for the last 800m but it was his final 400m split of 21.9 sec which attracted attention and he looked comfortable in the process.

"That's probably all he needs now in terms of fast work for the week," said co-trainer Michael Hawkes of the horse who was a Class 1 winner in Hong Kong last year when prepared by John Size.

Australia's Audemars Piguet QEII Cup contender Niconero also returns to Hong Kong but, unlike Dao Dao, he does so for the second time as a visitor.

The seven-year-old, prepared by one-time Hong Kong based trainer David Hayes, was 12th in the 2006 Champions Mile won by Bullish Luck.

This time around he tackles the longer race and his recent fourth placing in the Dubai Duty Free suggests he's now coping better with travel. To that end, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has assisted the Hayes team by providing the recently retired Hong Kong horse Triumph as a stable companion for Niconero who is inclined to fret, according to his trainer, when unaccompanied.

Niconero this morning worked on the all weather track quickening from the 1200m over which he ran in 1 min 18.5 sec with the last 400m in 23.1 seconds. "He's feeling good," said track rider Lizzie Jelfs who also looked after the horse during his previous visit to Hong Kong.

Frankie Dettori won't be arriving in town until the end of the week but his Champions Mile contender Alexandros looked muscled up and ready for serious action when cantering around the all-weather track. Partnered by former British-based jockey John Bramhill, he left Godolphin's representative Claire Sparkes speaking positively about the horse's chance.

"He really thrived in Dubai winning twice and then running a cracking third in the Dubai Duty Free. We're hopeful and we certainly think that he deserves a crack at this Group One prize."

The Mike De Kock-trained duo of Archipenko (APQEII Cup) and Imbongi (pictured) (Champions Mile) were out on the turf track together for a solid work out that delighted De Kock's assistant trainer Stephen Jell. Kevin Shea was aboard Archipenko as usual, while Imbongi had the assistance of fellow South African jockey Jeff Lloyd in the saddle.

The pair worked upsides and stopped the clock over 1200m in 1 min 11.8 sec with the final 400m in a solid 22.0 sec - all this with the trademark yellow headgear of Archipenko being left off on this occasion. "I'm very happy with that," was Jell's succinct comment afterwards.

The most recent arrival in the International Quarantine barn, the Luca Cumani trained Presvis, who arrived at Sha Tin on Monday afternoon, was not seen out on the track but had a quiet morning in the trotting ring. Cumani flew to Dubai last weekend to supervise Presvis's final gallop at Nad al Sheba, and was more than happy with the work, according to Mark Player, HKJC's Head of International Races, Sale & Development.

The French challenger Chinchon from the stable of Carlos Laffon-Parias looked particularly fresh and well as he put in a routine canter on the all weather track. He was on his toes and seemed keen to do more than he was asked, and assistant trainer Stephane Duprey confirmed his wellbeing.

 

Rate:
Email link to a friend | Printable Version
  • Similar Articles
    Displaying 20 ResultsSee All
    finjaan back with a bang, j j unplaced2009-07-28

     Finjaan finished with a rattle to take top honours in the Betfair Cup at Goodwood for Marcus ...

    View | Add Comment
    j day at ascot as the plane goes for glory2009-06-19

    J J The Jet Plane (pictured with his connections), one of the most exciting sprinters to emerge ...

    View | Add Comment
    j j the jet plane bolts home on english debut2009-06-01

    J J The Jet Plane silenced his critics and made many new fans in England today as he demolish...

    View | Add Comment
    singapore cup: plum draw for jay peg2009-05-14

    South Africa's main hope and the defending Singapore Airlines Cup Champion, Jay Peg, landed th...

    View | Add Comment
    countdown on for jay peg's final fling2009-05-11

    With the countdown to the Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint en...

    View | Add Comment
    j j included in cosmopolitan entry for darley july cup2009-05-06

    The £400,000 Group One Darley July Cup, the highlight of the three-day Newmarket July Fes...

    View | Add Comment
    french hopes on chinchon in hong kong2009-04-23

    Trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias was at the track for the first time this week to watch Chinchon (pictur...

    View | Add Comment
    pataca likely favourite for big race2009-04-21

    Hong Kong's leading trainer John Moore professed himself delighted with Tuesday's trackwork b...

    View | Add Comment
    south african horses arrive in hong kong2009-04-14

    South Africa's two contenders for Hong Kong Group 1 honours, Imbongi and Archipenko (pictured), have...

    View | Add Comment
    excellent line-ups unveiled for audemars piguet qeii cup, champions mile2009-04-08

    The fields announced today for the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and Champions Mile double-bill co...

    View | Add Comment
    forest path back on winning trail in s.a classic2009-03-28

    Forest Path (SAF) bounced back to his best which a gritty victory in the grade 1 S.A Classic over 18...

    View | Add Comment
    mr. brock makes history, off to france2009-03-23

    Mr. Brock, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Serge Seenyen of Mauritius, made history on Sunday at Abu Dhabi Equ...

    View | Add Comment
    sia cup and krisflyer draw stellar nominations2009-03-12

    The nominations for this year's Singapore Airlines International Cup and the KrisFlyer International...

    View | Add Comment
    oracy, zirconeum head classic day nominations2009-03-09

    The first four past the post in the Gauteng Guineas could square up yet again at Turffontein on 28 M...

    View | Add Comment
    super thursday double for south africa, godolphin2009-03-06

    The final meeting of the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, Super Thursday, was kindly sponso...

    View | Add Comment
    asiatic boy returns to best form2009-03-05

    Patiently handled by jockey Johnny Murtagh, Asiatic Boy (Arg) (h, 6, Not for Sale {Arg})--S.S. Asiat...

    View | Add Comment
    super competition on the cards for penultimate meeting at nad al sheba2009-03-04

    Super Thursday, kindly sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwel...

    View | Add Comment
    south african bred biarritz tops dubai sale2009-03-04

    The Mike De Kock-trained Biarritz (pictured) will carry the yellow and blue silks of his main patron...

    View | Add Comment
    super thursday littered with s.a runners2009-03-04

    Super Thursday in Dubai is regarded at the best carnival race meeting and a major preparation for ru...

    View | Add Comment
    dubai's super thursday approaches2009-03-01

    With only next week’s Super Thursday meeting, the dress rehearsal for Dubai World Cup night le...

    View | Add Comment
  • Hong Kong
    Displaying 10 ResultsSee All
    bowman now on lucky sweynesse 2 days ago

    Hugh Bowman has secured the ride on Lucky Sweynesse for the upcoming Group Two Sprint Cup, making hi...

    View | Add Comment
    massive sovereign wins a smart hong kong derby 5 days ago

    Massive Sovereign, formerly known as Broadhurst when trained by Aidan O’Brien in Ireland, stol...

    View | Add Comment
    big guns drawn wide for hk derby 2024-03-21

    Helios Express’ bid to match the towering feats of Rapper Dragon and Golden Sixty with a clean...

    View | Add Comment
    treble for teetan as young champion impresses2024-03-16

    Young Champion lived up to high expectations, leaving Karis Teetan impressed as he clinched victory ...

    View | Add Comment
    hong kong derby field announced, galaxy patch looks teg real deal 2024-03-14

    Galaxy Patch caught the eye in the Gr1 The Queens Silve Jubilee Cup when he came from the back of th...

    View | Add Comment
    avdulla brilliance gives california spangle another gr1 2024-03-10

    California Spangle, backed from 20/1 to 13/1, surged to victory in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Gr1 in...

    View | Add Comment
    purton says drop in distance will help2024-03-08

    Zac Purton is optimistic a drop in distance can prove decisive in Beauty Eternal’s quest to to...

    View | Add Comment
    romantic warrior pips voyage gold cupbubble in great renewal of 2024-02-25

    Enhancing status as one of the world’s premier middle-distance gallopers with gripping victory...

    View | Add Comment
    south african whyte calls star horse a dream come true 2024-02-16

    Douglas Whyte is proud as punch to train Russian Emperor and the fifth-season handler isn’t ta...

    View | Add Comment
    century up for hewitson in hong kong 2024-02-12

    Lyle Hewitson celebrated his remarkable 100th victory during the electrifying Chinese New Year gathe...

    View | Add Comment