Return to Home Page
|
Vision d'Etat returns to ideal distance in Hong Kong Cup
 |
| Vision d'Etat has far exceeded the expectations of his humble pedigree
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
Multiple French Group 1 hero VISION D'ETAT (Chichicastenango), most recently
a subpar 10th to Sea the Stars in the October 4 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
(Fr-G1), cuts back to his preferred trip of about 1 1/4 miles in Sunday's $2.6
million Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1). The Eric Libaud charge tops an accomplished field
of 10 set for the lucrative affair at Sha Tin, including defending champion
EAGLE MOUNTAIN (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1)
victor PRESVIS (Sakhee) and Hong Kong Derby (HK-G1) star COLLECTION (Peintre
Celebre).Vision d'Etat has compiled an admirable 12-8-1-1 career mark, with his only
two unplaced efforts coming in the about 1 1/2-mile Arc. Successful in last
year's Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1), and a decent fifth to Zarkava
in the 2008 Arc, the bay colt has padded his resume this season. After a cozy
victory in the Prix Ganay (Fr-G1), he captured the prestigious Prince of Wales's
S. (Eng-G1) at this distance at Royal Ascot.
Vision d'Etat stepped up in trip in his last pair at Longchamp, finishing
second to Spanish Moon (El Prado [Ire]) in the Prix Foy (Fr-G2) before throwing
in his worst-ever performance in the Arc, but promises to revert to form here.
|
"He looks very well, and I liked his canter on the all-weather this morning,"
Libaud said Thursday. "He
could go on the turf tomorrow, but I want to leave all the options open and avoid
the pressure. He galloped with his head high today because he is still scouting
around here. He's a very curious individual. He's got his temper too, but I find
him in good form."
Regular rider Olivier Peslier will guide Vision d'Etat from post 7.
 |
| Eagle Mountain blitzed his final quarter in :22.80 Tuesday
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
If Eagle Mountain can duplicate his Cup heroics of one year ago, it would
represent a massive training feat on the part of Mike de Kock. Unlike 2008, when
Eagle Mountain was making his third start of the year, and exiting a second in
the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), he has endured a less than ideal build-up to his
title defense.
The five-year-old, who had placed in both the Derby (Eng-G1) and Irish Derby
(Ire-G1) for former trainer Aidan O'Brien in 2007, suffered a suspensory injury
to his left foreleg following his 2008 Hong Kong Cup victory. Sidelined for the
next 11 months, Eagle Mountain reappeared in the November 22 International Mile
Trial (HK-G2), where he tired and reported home ninth of 10.
"He was ring-rusty -- 30 pounds over his best racing weight, and the race
served its purpose," de Kock explained on his website, mikedekockracing.com.
|
"That's an advantage," de Kock said of his charge having "fresh legs" for
Sunday. "He hasn't had the same prep as last year, but he is fresh and very
well. He put up a very good piece of work on Tuesday. I'm expecting a good run,
but whatever happens, we know we have a top horse going into the Dubai season."
Eagle Mountain drew the rail with his regular pilot, Kevin Shea.
 |
| Presvis has finished in the top two in 10 straight starts
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
The English-based Presvis has progressed from the handicap ranks into a Group
1 globetrotter for Luca Cumani. Following a furiously closing second in the
Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) in March, the bay gelding traveled to Hong Kong and
plundered the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at this course and distance, engineering an
impressive last-to-first rally.Presvis tried to repeat those tactics in the Singapore Airlines International
Cup (Mal-G1) at Kranji next time out, but just fell a head short. He was
freshened for six months thereafter and returned with a useful runner-up effort
in the November 21 Churchill S. over Lingfield's Polytrack.
On Thursday, Presvis took a spin on the Sha Tin turf, to Cumani's
satisfaction.
"He's not a big horse, and he doesn't take a lot of getting ready, and I was
happy with that work," Cumani said. "A lot of rust came off after the race at Lingfield,
and most of it is off now."
|
With that tightener under his belt, Presvis figures to come rolling late
beneath Kieren Fallon Sunday. Cumani was unfazed by drawing post 9 in the
10-horse field.
"The draw is not really an issue with the horse," Cumani said. "He'll be near the back like he
was in the QEII Cup in April."
In contrast, Collection's landing in post 10 did not thrill jockey Darren
Beadman.
"Can we do that again? Gate 10 not perfect; hope he can get in midfield, one off
the fence," Beadman summed up.
 |
| Collection will try to keep the trophy in Hong Kong for the first time since 2005
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
Collection, hero of the 2008 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot for his former
connections, has developed into a top-class performer in Hong Kong. Since
joining five-time champion trainer John Moore, the Irish-bred bay has garnered
the Hong Kong Derby (HK-G1) and the November 22 International Cup Trial (HK-G2)
in emphatic fashion. As a result of those victories, he is a perfect two-for-two
at this course and distance.The three remaining international invaders are all coming off career-best
performances -- Japan's QUEEN SPUMANTE (Jungle Pocket) and the French-trained
pair of ASHALANDA (Linamix) and STARLISH (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]).
Queen Spumante sprang a 77-1 shock in the November 15 Queen Elizabeth II
Commemorative Cup (Jpn-G1), leading throughout to record her first graded stakes
score. Trainer Shigeyuki Kojima was pleased with drawing post 3 in Hong Kong,
and he left no doubt about their plans.
"The draw is ideal for her," Kojima said. "We can set the pace like she
did last time when she won her Grade 1 at home."
Hiroyasu Tanaka, who rationed out Queen Spumante's speed at Kyoto, has the
return call.
|
The Aga Khan's Ashalanda only made her racing debut in June, but the gray
filly has advanced rapidly. The Alain de Royer-Dupre pupil won the Prix de
Malleret (Fr-G2) in just her second lifetime start, and after a near-miss second
to older males in the Premio Federico Tesio (Ity-G3), she fought her way to a
narrow decision in the October 17 Pride S. (Eng-G2) at Newmarket. Interestingly,
that race's namesake, the multiple highweight mare Pride, lifted the Hong Kong
Cup for de Royer-Dupre in 2006.
Gerald Mosse picks up the mount on Ashalanda, who could become the second
three-year-old filly to win the Cup, following Alexander Goldrun in 2004.
Ashalanda projects a forwardly-placed, ground-saving trip from post 2.
Starlish, after several unsuccessful attempts, earned his first group laurel
in the October 27 Prix Andre Baboin (Fr-G3), and the Elie Lellouche trainee must
take another step forward to factor here.
"He worked well over the turf this morning with (jockey) Anthony Crastus up,"
Lellouche said Thursday. "He's got a
very good action, and the ground is all right for him as it is. He's done well on
fast ground, but he's got an edge on softer courses. He's got such a big action
that he can pull up a bit when he's restrained, so I hope there will be enough
pace. We haven't been too lucky on that front so far this season."
Rounding out the field are three local hopefuls -- Hong Kong Group 3 winner
MR MEDICI (Medicean), third to Collection in both the Hong Kong Derby and the
Cup Trial last out; handicapper SPECIAL DAYS (Keeper), most recently eighth in
the Mile Trial and facing his first test at this distance; and Hong Kong Group 3
victor EYSHAL (Green Desert), exiting an eighth in the Cup Trial. Eyshal just
squeaked into the field upon the withdrawal of Godolphin's Balius (Mujahid) last
week.
Send this article to a friend
|
|
