Bye Bye Hong Kong bids to provide Balding with fourth Diomed Stakes win

3.10 Epsom
Investec Diomed Stakes (Group 3) | 1m½f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Andrew Balding bids for a record fourth win in the Diomed as he runs Bye Bye Hong Kong, who is a rare three-year-old runner in the race and receives a healthy 12lb weight-for-age allowance.

Balding plundered the £90,000 contest with Passing Glance (2004), Side Glance (2012) and Tullius (2016), and his latest contender arrives on a hat-trick following victories at Chelmsford and Windsor.

When landing the odds in a Listed contest over a mile last time, the King Power-owned colt proved half a length too good for reopposing rival Oh This Is Us and hit the line powerfully.

Prior to that, Bye Bye Hong Kong had briefly been under consideration for the Kentucky Derby when winning a valuable qualifier at Chelmsford in similarly determined fashion.

Balding said: "Bye Bye Hong Kong won well at Windsor last time and he's taking on older horses here. I'm hoping the track will suit him well and he goes there in good form."

You have to go further back in history to find Sir Michael Stoute's last winner of this race (Scottish Reel in 1985), but he provides the likely favourite in Zaaki, another recent winner at Listed level.

The four-year-old, who was tried over further last year, has the best form in the book and overcame the classy Barney Roy on his return over a mile at Ascot under Frankie Dettori.

The runner-up has since gone on to frank that form in no uncertain terms by scoring in a Listed contest at Longchamp and is currently a leading fancy for the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Zaaki has always shown plenty of pace at home and Stoute has opted to stick to shorter trips with his flashy type this season.

Zaaki (Frankie Dettori, left) beating Barney Roy in the Listed mile at Ascot

Stoute said: "We're moving back up to Group class with Zaaki and he has pleased us at home since Ascot. Hopefully he can give another good account."

Third in the forecast betting is the Richard Hannon-trained Oh This Is Us, who is back for another crack at this race two years after he finished a decent third behind Sovereign Debt when short for room at a crucial stage.

Hannon has yet to add the Group 3 contest to his CV, but his six-year-old looked as good on turf as he does on the all-weather when chasing home Bye Bye Hong Kong last time at Windsor.

The trainer said: "Oh This Is Us owes us nothing after a brilliant winter and showed he also likes the turf when second at Windsor. He looks sure to be the mix again."

Simon Crisford, who has recently moved to his new base at Gainsborough Stables, could start the housewarming party early if Mordin can collect.

Mordin: successful at Haydock on his returnCredit: John Grossick

The former Godolphin racing manager knows what it takes to land the mile contest having won it with Century Dream a year ago.

Mordin was a model of consistency last year, winning twice and being placed five times, and reappeared to slam Ledham in the mud at Haydock in April.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, said: "It was soft ground that day at Haydock but he seems to go on anything. He has a solid each-way chance."

The six-strong field is completed by Irish challenger Zabriskie and the William Jarvis-trained Chief Ironside, who was unsuited by the soft ground on his reappearance at Chester.

Jarvis said: "He's a big price but hated the ground at Chester and has some decent form from last year, including when finishing in front of Zaaki at York."

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