The Hong Kong International Races, some big-money stakes for 2-year-olds and Louisiana Champions Day highlight weekend racing.
Despite the defection of several international stars, including two recent Breeders' Cup winners, the Hong Kong races retain quality and a measure of intrigue. Together, the four Group 1 events comprise what the Hong Kong Jockey Club has branded, with some justification, the "World Turf Championships."
The $2.6 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup, contested at 2,000 meters around two right-hand turns on the Sha Tin turf, drew a field of 10, including local favorites Ambitious Dragon and California Memory. French-based Cirrus des Aigles comes into the event off a victory over So You Think in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Byword, another French entry, defeated Cirrus des Aigles in the Prix Dollar in Paris before an eighth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf. A German-trained pair, Durban Thunder and Zazou, add spice to the lineup but are longshots.
Hong Kong-based horses have won the last five runnings of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, a Group 1 test with 14 starting in this year's $2.6 million renewal. The locals are strong again this year but face significant challenges. Japanese runner Apapane finished third in the QE II Commemorative Cup behind Snow Fairy in her last outing but is a proven Group 1 winner. French-based Sahpresa won the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in September, then finished third in the Mile Championship in Kyoto last month. Jimmy Choux, based in New Zealand, was second in the Cox Plate in Australia two starts back. And British-based Cityscape ran well in England, France, Ireland and Italy earlier in the year.
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Last year, South African star J J the Jet Plane ended eight straight years of local domination of the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint, nipping Singapore's Rocket Man at the wire. In Sunday's $1.8 million renewal of the 1,600-meter run around one turn, Rocket Man is back for another try and will face another field loaded with local talent. Among the other international chances is an improving Japanese runner, Curren Chan, who has won five straight races including the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes last time out.
The $1.8 million Hong Kong Vase, at 2,400 meters, is the longest race of the day and attracted a well-balanced field of 13 entrants from five countries. Dunaden and Red Cadeaux, first and second in the recent Melbourne Cup in Australia, will face off again in the Vase.
Juvenile races
In Japan, Hanshin Racecourse Sunday hosts the $1.6 million, Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. A full field is expected for the 1,600 meters, starting on the backstretch, downhill and then into an uphill climb to the wire. I'm Yours, winner of the Group 3 Fantasy Stakes at Kyoto last month, is seeking a repeat. Several others from that race also are in the field along with several other unbeaten fillies from lesser heats.
Six were entered for Saturday's $200,000, Grade I Hollywood Starlet and Weemissfrankie is the standout on paper. The New York-bred Sunriver filly won three in a row, including the Grade I Del Mar Debutante and the Grade I Oak Leaf, before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Charm the Maker was third in the Oak Leaf and won the Sharp Cat Stakes in her last outing.
In Oklahoma, Saturday's $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile drew a field of 12, including three trained by Steve Asmussen -- the coupled entry of Basalt and Seeker as well as Pleasant Closing. Seeker was third in the Grade II Nashua Stakes at Belmont and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint. Ted's Folly is a local powerhouse with wins in the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes in his last two outings.
Nine signed on for Saturday's $100,000 Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity for state-breds at Hawthorne Racecourse. The morning-line favorites are Twelve Hundred, Yankee Dealer and Bling King. The race is named for one of the few recent Illinois governors who has not been charged with or convicted of wrongdoing. Edgar also is an active owner/breeder of Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds.
Elsewhere:
Louisiana Champions Day Saturday at Fair Grounds includes eight races for state-breds. Star Guitar is back for another try at the $150,000 Classic.
Gulfstream Park Saturday cards the $100,000, Grade III Sugar Swirl for fillies and mares going 6 furlongs. Pomeroys Pistol will seek to make amends for her fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Most of the rest also are stakes-placed.
