Romantic Warrior ready to join the roll of local heroes in QEII

One of the showcase days in Hong Kong racing takes on a different guise this year when the hometown heroes have the show to themselves on a bumper 11-race card at Sha Tin.

Strict Covid regulations have made it impossible for international competition, much to the disappointment of Hong Kong Jockey Club officials, who with regular prize-money boosts have built this meeting into one of the most attractive fixtures in world racing.

Not even the much-publicised ‘quarantine bubble’ system, whereby visiting jockeys and trainers could be flown in by private plane, transported to their own private country club facility and chaperoned on work mornings and racedays at the track, was deemed feasible.

Government persistence with a policy of eradicating Covid has made life very difficult in the region but racing has miraculously continued, providing stay-at-home workers and those confined to their houses and apartments with regular entertainment.

Golden Sixty recently notched his 20th win in 23 starts but he will face an interesting opponent in the promising California SpangleCredit: Hkjc

Heading the local equine heroes is Golden Sixty, who recently notched his 20th win in 23 starts to dispel any suggestion of a challenge to his reputation, but he will face an interesting opponent in the promising California Spangle in the FWD Champions Mile.

In the sprinting department, Wellington will take on a number of familiar rivals who he has mastered in the past. With encouraging reports of his wellbeing following a bruising experience in the Hong Kong Sprint in December – he has won twice since – he is the one to beat in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

A good field has been attracted for the FWD QEII Cup – a feature inaugurated in the presence of the Queen at a Happy Valley night meeting in 1975 and an event that brought Hong Kong to a standstill.

The winner then was the outsider Nazakat, ridden by Malaysian jockey Peter Cheam. Since that memorable occasion 47 years ago many local champions, as well as top horses from abroad, have been added to the roll of honour with Super Win (1976), River Verdon (1992) and Viva Pataca (2007 and 2010) achieving local star status.

The Andreas Wohler-trained Silvano (2001) and the Luca Cumani-trained Presvis (2009) were notable visitors who captured the prize.

This year, Russian Emperor, who landed the Hong Kong Gold Cup for his sole local success, is facing Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior, a confrontation that provides another strand of interest on a high-quality card befitting the occasion.

Sunday: 8.00 Sha Tin

Chairman's Sprint Prize (Group 1) | 6f | 3yo+ |Sky

Stable confidence is high that Wellington can confirm his position as Hong Kong’s speed king by winning his second Chairman’s Sprint Prize in which he faces ten rivals, most of whom look destined to live in his shadow for some time.

A wide draw in nine is a potential stumbling block, although his style of running lends itself to taking a position back in the field and as long as Alexis Badel can slot him in and race with cover the gelding’s usual strong finish should be seen to effect.

Wellington was badly hampered in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December and beat only one other runner to the line. Although it was a traumatic experience for the five-year-old he has progressed well in his work since, according to trainer Richard Gibson.

Also, he has registered solid wins in the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee, over 7f, and the Group 2 Sprint Cup, over 6f, to put him spot on for this big assignment. The absence of Japanese opposition makes it much easier for this hometown hero.

Sky Field looked fortunate to land the Hong Kong Sprint, marred by the four-horse pile-up, and he has run creditably in other Group 1 races without winning. He is clearly in form and well up to this standard, but there are others likely to offer more in potential improvement.

Sky Field landed the Hong Kong Sprint but faces a stiff task against WellingtonCredit: Hkjc

Sight Success heads that list of improvers, having won four races and progressed 30lb in the handicap since the start of the season and there appears no ceiling to that progress.

John Size has taken the significant step of booking Zac Purton to partner Sight Success for the first time, and from an inside gate in two he should be right on the speed throughout. If he gets luck in running he will take a hand in the finish and appears the danger to Wellington.

Size also runs Hot King Prawn, who at the age of seven has not won for 15 months. Significantly, however, the trainer has engaged Joao Moreira, who was on board the last time the old grey warrior put his head in front in the Group 1 Centenary Sprint Cup.

The third Size runner, Lucky Express, looks to have reached his level, although he continues to race well. In his former home, Melbourne, he was looked upon as a potential star sprinter but he seems to be looking for a slightly longer trip these days.

Sunday: 9.05 Sha Tin

FWD Champions Mile (Group 1) | 1m | 3yo+ | Sky

Of the three Group 1s on this high-quality card, the Champions Mile is the one that promises the most intriguing clash. Could Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse and local champion, Golden Sixty (right), have his colours lowered by young buck California Spangle?

Defeat is not new to Golden Sixty these days although, in fairness, pilot error brought about his defeats when second in the Stewards’ Cup in January and third in the Hong Kong Gold Cup in February. Vincent Ho was not seen at his best in either race.

In the first of those defeats, Zac Purton was aboard Waikuku when heading Golden Sixty, who was beaten for the first time in two and a half years. While Purton sat handy to the lead, Ho had eased back to second last from an inside gate and then found himself pocketed.

By the time he extricated himself, he was conceding Waikuku and Purton eight lengths, which he whittled down but still he arrived too late.

California Spangle was impressive in the Hong Kong Classic Cup and was a good second to Romantic Warrior in the DerbyCredit: Hkjc

The Hong Kong Gold Cup was run on officially yielding ground (unusual in Hong Kong) and while Ho took Golden Sixty around the houses on the home turn, Blake Shinn cut the corner on Russian Emperor and found an inside opening which he used to great advantage.

Golden Sixty then returned to winning ways on his latest start. His dazzling turn of foot is still a feature of his exciting running style and, given the breaks, he is still the one they have to beat.

Having said that, California Spangle has been hugely impressive and is a potential top-liner. His win in the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1m 1f was an eye-opener, and he then proceeded to run a great race to finish runner-up to Romantic Warrior in the Derby, over 1m 2f, attempting to make all.

Although many at first tended to think of California Spangle as an out-and-out sprinter there is more depth to his pedigree than it might appear. He is by Starspangledbanner out of a High Chaparral mare and, on what has been seen so far, a mile might be his best trip.

His early speed should ensure he leads this field from stall five, which compels Ho, drawn two on Golden Sixty, to go forward. Ho cannot afford to let California Spangle slip away.

On international ratings, California Spangle has 17lb to find with Golden Sixty but the gap seems exaggerated.

Several others are not showing their old sparkle, and best of the rest could be the Size-trained Champion’s Way.

Sunday: 9.40 Sha Tin

FWD QEII Cup (Group 1) | 1m 2f | 3yo+ | Sky

Romantic Warrior bids for a little piece of local history when he tackles the Group 1 QEII Cup, over 1m 2f straight off the back of his determined win in last month’s Hong Kong Derby, over course and distance.

The Danny Shum-trained four-year-old attempts to become the first since Werther in 2016 to complete the Derby-QEII double, which is no mean feat considering the depth usually found in the second leg and its proximity to the Classic.

Werther proved himself a worthy champion and maintained a position in the upper ranks to the end of his career and Romantic Warrior promises to do something similar having already won six of his seven starts and establishing himself over a variety of distances.

His only defeat came when he finished fourth to California Spangle from a wide draw in the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1m 1f, which seemed a reasonable excuse in the circumstances. His subsequent effort to win the Derby was an indication of his quality and potential.

He is a son of Acclamation out of a Street Cry mare, his grand dam being the former Darley mare Folk Opera, who won the EP Taylor Stakes in Canada. It is a pedigree which offers plenty of scope for the future in Hong Kong. Karis Teetan retains the ride.

Russian Emperor enjoyed his finest moment in Hong Kong when landing the Gold Cup, over course and distance on yielding ground – he beat Golden Sixty into third in the process – and the success was in no small part due to a brilliant ride from Blake Shinn.

Russian Emperor beat Golden Sixty into third in the Gold Cup but the success was partly due to a brilliant ride from Blake ShinnCredit: Hkjc

Shinn tactically outfoxed Vincent Ho, who went wide on the favourite, and subsequent to that run Russian Emperor came back lame after finishing second in the Chairman’s Trophy. Trainer Douglas Whyte says it is nothing to worry about and that the gelding is ready to do himself justice.

Whyte is hoping for a repeat deluge that left the track rain-softened on Gold Cup day but according to the local forecast there is only a 30-40 per cent chance of rain.

It is an interesting field with many needing to bounce back and reproduce their best form from the past. Tourbillon Diamond is one who has had excuses for recent defeats and could easily run a big race.

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