Akeed Mofeed finds seam in time in HK Cup

Pan Sutong's highly-regarded Irish import Akeed Mofeed hadn't won since the

Hong Kong Derby back in March, but the Richard Gibson trainee once again

delivered on the big occasion in Sunday's Group 1 Hong Kong Cup. Trapped on the

inside for much of the stretch, Sha Tin maestro Douglas Whyte sensed a seam

developing, and Akeed Mofeed burst through in time to deny Japanese pacesetter

Tokei Halo and French star Cirrus des Aigles. American hopeful Little Mike tired

to ninth after stalking early.

Whyte was capping a coveted Group 1 double, having steered comebacker

Glorious Days to triumph in the Hong Kong Mile one race earlier. Ironically,

Glorious Days had run down Gold-Fun, representing the same connections as Akeed

Mofeed. Whyte subsequently made up to Sutong and Gibson by masterminding the

winning trip in the Cup.

"It's a great privilege to work with top, professional jockeys like Douglas,"

Gibson said. "I did tell him before the race that I would only forgive him for

the Mile if he won the Cup."

"It's been a while between drinks," said Whyte, a 13-time Hong Kong riding

champion whose only prior International Race win came aboard Indigenous in the

1998 Vase. "But good things come to those who are patient. I needed a day like

this again."

Whyte angled his mount to the newfound daylight, and the race was over.

Quickening stylishly on the proverbial dime, Akeed Mofeed pulled one length

clear in a final time of 2:01 4/5 for about 1 1/4 miles.

"It was a bit tight," Whyte recapped. "I didn't really want to leave the

fence, but shortly after the Japanese horse (Tokei Halo) rolled off the inside,

he rolled back again. And Christophe (Soumillon on Cirrus des Aigles) had me

very snug on the outside, but his horse gave way and I was able to ease back a

half length and come to the outside."

Gibson hailed Akeed Mofeed as a "big race" performer.

"All credit to him," the trainer said.

Tokei Halo kept on doggedly for runner-up honors, a half-length ahead of

Cirrus des Aigles and the closing Military Attack, who came up a whisker short

of third.

Cirrus des Aigles' connections observed that he didn't run up to his absolute

best.

"He doesn't act here quite like he does on the softer ground in France,"

Soumillon said. "I had a good trip considering our outside draw (post 10). He

just didn't quicken enough."

"We regret the bad draw he got," trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said, "because

he was wide without cover in the early stages and that must have cost him

something at the end. But we're very proud of him and hopefully we will be back

next year to try again."

Military Attack hasn't quite rounded into his rip-roaring form, according to

jockey Zac Purton.

"He's not at his best form at the moment and he couldn't quite catch up at

the end," Purton said.

Great Britain's Side Glance checked in fifth, followed by Blazing Speed,

fellow Brit Grandeur, German shipper Neatico, Little Mike, Same World, Endowing

and Rainbow Chic.

Little Mike had trouble with the right-handed turn for home.

"He traveled really well for me," Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith said. "I was

in a great position and he was good and relaxed. I pulled him out on the turn

but he just didn't handle it. He ran really wide and it cost me so much ground.

I should have stayed inside, but I might not have got a run."

Exported to Hong Kong, Akeed Mofeed was a red-hot prospect for the local

Derby. Gibson put his new recruit on that trail, commencing with a third in a

January 12 handicap and a fast-finishing sixth in the February 17 Hong Kong

Classic Cup. After a commanding 2 1/2-length display in a March 2 handicap, Akeed Mofeed justified favoritism in the March 17 Derby. He next tried an

international field in the April 28 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, but checked in fifth

to Military Attack.

Akeed Mofeed didn't put his best foot forward in his first two outings of the

new Hong Kong season this fall. Ninth in the October 1 National Day Cup and

seventh in the October 27 Sha Tin Trophy, he rebounded with a near-miss to

Endowing in the November 17 Jockey Club Cup. Akeed Mofeed was primed for a

career-best on Sunday, thus turning the tables on both Military Attack and

Endowing, and raising his sights for glory further afield.

"He's a very well-bred colt," Gibson said. "He needed international Group 1

recognition and he's achieved that today. He's a very talented horse with a stud

future ahead of him and racing abroad beckons, but we'll consider our options

before finalizing any plans."