The countdown is on in Hong Kong as the season begins to wind down and this Sunday sees the final Group One race of the season, the Champions & Chater Cup over 2,400m.
With Designs On Rome missing the race in favour of a minor surgery for a bone chip removal, last year’s winner Blazing Speed probably looks the logical favourite, but this is a race that springs surprises on a regular basis, being so late in the season and over a rarely-used distance.
When Blazing Speed won twelve months ago he was the shock result as Designs On Rome was odds-on, but the Tony Cruz-trained QE II Cup winner is the hunted not the hunter this year and even his stablemate Helene Super Star could be an rival.
John Moore sends out four runners including the winner of the lead-up in very wet going, Helene Happy Star, and Dominant, a very interesting runner returning from his two runs in Sydney. Dominant has always been good at these longer trips even off light preparations and is unusually well-credentialled as a horse with three wins over 2,400m in Hong Kong.
The Sha Tin Vase is the Group Three sprint on the day and Not Listenin’tome will likely finish his season here after Moore threw out plans to take him to Royal Ascot with Able Friend. He is one of a number of very talented horses down in the weights against big name opponents including Rad, going to 1,200m, and Divine Calling. Divine Calling has been freshened up since being disappointing heading towards the Derby a few months ago and could spring a surprise at the weights.
John Size keeps hanging in there with a winner here and there as he seeks an eighth trainer’s championship and the return of impressive debut winner Thewizardofoz on Sunday will see him strongly favoured by the public for at least one victory.
By Nathan Mody
