International racing returns to Hong Kong on Sunday, with the QE II Cup the feature event and light on visiting numbers but big on visiting talent.
Leading the visitors is Japan’s Epiphaneia, an unusual visitor with three-year-old classic form there in 2013 as runner-up in the 20000 Guineas and the Japanese Derby. Those horses rarely travel outside Japan, except for the Arc in Paris or for Dubai, and many are talking Epiphaneia up as the horse to beat. And his trainer, Katsuhiko Sumii, is Japan’s most successful international trainer with wins in the Melbourne Cup, Dubai World Cup and American Oaks amongst his achievements.
Sumii has only been to Hong Kong three times and the two who were considered chances both won – Hat Trick, in the Hong Kong Mile, and Rulership, in the 2011 QE II Cup.
The second Japanese runner, Uncoiled, is also no slouch and has a number of good placings in top races at home while the other visitors are Mike de Kock-trained Vercingetorix and Sanshaawes, under the South African banner. Vercingetorix was unbeaten before his second in the Dubai Duty Free to Just A Way, but that was no disgrace as the winner put in the best performance in the world this year.
Twelve months ago, the QE II Cup launched Tommy Berry on the international stage when he won on Military Attack for John Moore and this time he partners Hong Kong Derby winner, Designs On Rome, with a real chance of a repeat.
Military Attack will be ridden this time by Joao Moreira and, after a luckless World Cup run in Dubai, the six-year-old will be a tougher proposition on his home ground too. Moore has four runners and looks the only hope of keeping the prize at home after Akeed Mofeed scratched with a minor injury early this week.
By Nathan Mody
