Conte will have to face the toughest opponent in town when he takes his first foray into Group 1 grade in this Sunday’s (20 January) Stewards’ Cup (1600m) but his big-race rider Joao Moreira is unruffled at that prospect.
“It will be an interesting race because I think we’ve got a chance,” the Brazilian ace said at Sha Tin this morning, Friday, 18 January.
Those are brave words when the rival in question is Beauty Generation, a four-time G1 winner, untouchable in four dominant victories this year and the world’s top-rated specialist turf miler.
But Moreira’s faith in his mount is at least rooted in a solid foundation. Conte has won seven of his nine starts; he is a powerful, long-striding galloper with a smart change of gear; and he has improved for each race, the last of which brought an authoritative first Group race win in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m).
That latest success, though, still leaves the John Size-trained gelding on an international rating 21 points below Beauty Generation. The rival is a bona fide champion. Moreira is not questioning that.
“I think Beauty Generation is very good,” he said, “what he’s done so far is eye-catching. But I have to have faith in my bloke: he’s been doing things amazingly and he’s one of those up-and-coming horses.”
Potential is the watchword: Conte has shown bundles of it in the past 14 months. And the fact that the five-year-old’s career spans a little over a year, compared to Beauty Generation’s four seasons and 26 races, gives the big bay that tantalising he-could-be-anything factor.
“I’ve got no doubt there’s more to come from him,” Moreira continued. “He’s been doing everything in a straightforward way, he’s done nothing wrong and every time I sit on top of this horse he gives me extra confidence.
“The way he’s been going in his races he gives me that confidence that he’s one of the best horses in town, so I’m quite confident that he’s going to deliver his best.
“It is his toughest test but I think he’s capable, I think he’s up to it.”
The six-runner field also features the talented quartet of Beauty Only, Pakistan Star, Southern Legend, and Northern Superstar.
Top-class potential or not, should Conte win it would be one of the biggest shocks of the season, with Beauty Generation the equal top-rated horse in Hong Kong history alongside another great John Moore-trained miler Able Friend.
– News from Hong Kong Jockey Club
