Zaidan stakes Derby claim in Classic Cup

Report: Hong Kong, Sunday

Sha Tin: Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Cup (Group 1) 1m1f, turf, 4yo

ROYAL ASCOT winner Zaidan (Olivier Doleuze/John Moore) staked his claim for Derby glory next month after a narrow defeat of the luckless Sweet Orange in the Group 1 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Winner of the Chesham Stakes for Clive Brittain in 2010, Zaidan switched to Moore's stable at Sha Tin later that year with a Derby campaign in his second Hong Kong season the primary objective.

The Classic Cup provided the Street Cry gelding with his third local victory from 11 starts and the outcome owed everything to a tactically astute ride from Doleuze who was winning the race for the third time.

From a position with cover around midfield, Zaidan stalked an even-to-slow tempo before being unleashed by the Frenchman at a crucial juncture off the home turn.

At the furlong pole, the pair looked to have an unassailable break of two lengths but last month's Classic Mile winner Sweet Orange, having been taken back to the tail of the field from his wide draw, sprang from a seemingly impossible position only to be foiled by a nose at the post.

Dominant, another of Moore's expensive Derby-bound recruits from Britain, turned in a much improved effort on his second local outing under Neil Callan to finish third, a length-and-a- half off the front pair.  The 6-4 favourite Fay Fay was fourth.

Dan Excel, formerly Dunboyne Express when trained in Ireland, did well to finish in midfield having been posted widest of all through the race.

"Zaidan is a different horse since we gelded him, he's more genuine," Moore later said of the winner.

"Today we got a good run in behind. He kicked hard and the only thing the jockey said was that when he hit the front he pricked his ears and half wanted to pull up so Olivier will have to be careful of that when he rides him in the Derby, which I think he will do."

Moore saddled five of the 14 runners and was also delighted to witness a far better performance from Dominant who left Roger Varian's stable last summer on a Hong Kong Derby mission.

"He just needed to be held up. He was a victim of circumstances last time but today he settled in behind and closed off. Neil got off and said this is the one they have to beat in the Derby," Moore added.

It is interesting to compare the sectional times of the first three as Irish import Sweet Orange covered the final 400m almost seven tenths of a second quicker than both the winner and the third.

As such, Sweet Orange would surely have prevailed had he been dealt a kinder post position, tracked a stronger pace or even enjoyed a little more luck in running at the top of the stretch.

"The draw was a nightmare," jockey Weichong Marwing rued. "David [Ferraris,trainer] said not to force the horse, just to leave him at the back. He has run enormous, there's no question about it."

Meanwhile, it will be of consolation to Ferraris that he can look forward to another bold effort from Sweet Orange in the big one on March 18 when the 1m2f distance will suit him more than most.