Jockey Nash Rawiller believes that the future is bright for Harmony Hero and holds high hopes that the three-year-old can continue his progression towards the big leagues when he makes his Class 2 debut in Saturday’s (21 April) Sports For All Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin.
The Richard Gibson-trained Harmony Hero (122lb) arrived in Hong Kong with a reputation, having twice won impressively in Australia pre-import. The son of Elvstroem went some way towards justifying the hype with a barnstorming win at Sha Tin on Easter Monday (2 April), coming from 10 lengths off a strong tempo before unleashing a powerful turn of foot to post a soft length and a half win.
“It was a great win, we were able to come back and find a nice spot from the awkward draw,” Rawiller said at Sha Tin on Friday (20 April). “Obviously, tomorrow (Saturday), we are going to have to do something a little bit similar from another awkward gate (11). I felt going into his last run that he still had improvement in him, and with that solid tempo that was on in the race, I thought he did a very good job to be able to reel in the runaway leader who had a light weight. Look, he’s a very promising horse and I have a really nice opinion of him.”
As a three-year-old, the logical long-term target for Harmony Hero is next year’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which starts with the Hong Kong Classic Mile in mid-January. Rawiller believes that the son of Elvstroem has already put himself forward as a potential contender for those races.
“I think the writing is on the wall with him, that he’s got the potential to keep improving to become a top-liner,” Rawiller said. “There’s still a long way to go, though. At this stage, the racing is going to help him and I think in six months, we’ll be hoping that he can reach some nice races and perhaps the four-year-old classics.”
Harmony Hero faces 13 rivals in his first Class 2 attempt, including fellow Australian three-year-old Gunnison (125lb). The G2 Todman Stakes (1200m) winner steps up to 1400m for the first time, but John Size’s charge also has to contend with gate 13 under Joao Moreira.
Also in the line-up is the Benno Yung-trained Coby Boy (121lb). The five-year-old has only raced three times in Hong Kong, posting a 97/1 win in July before a fourth and a second over this course and distance in Class 3. Keith Yeung has been in the saddle each time.
“His form just keeps improving after each run,” Yeung said. “Benno has obviously done a good job in preparing him after his injury, because he has returned well. I couldn’t be happier. I think now, he will be close to his peak. He tries hard, he’s honest, so he will always be a chance.
“Last time, the weight was just too much for him at the top of Class 3 – he carried 130 pounds and only just got beaten on the line. Up in grade but carrying a light weight should suit him.”
Coby Boy will jump from gate two.
Also among the 14-horse field are last-start winner People’s Knight (129lb) and Regency Bo Bo (127lb), both with claimers engaged, while honest types Apollo’s Choice (127lb) and Fortune Booth (127lb) also step out. The contest also sees the Hong Kong debut of Italian G2 winner Xiang Bai Qi, who won the Premio Vittoria Di Capua (1600m) at San Siro when named Amore Hass.
The Sports For All Handicap closes the 10-race card at Sha Tin and is scheduled for 7.45pm (EDST), with the opener, the Class 4 Jockey Club Scholarships 20th Anniversary Handicap (1000m), to begin the meeting at 3pm (EDST).
– News from Hong Kong Jockey Club
