Endowing, Gold-Fun, Charles the Great star in HK preps

"I didn't have to do much work once I got out, he was coming into the race so

strong -- I saw Military Attack was off the bridle and I was going a lot better

than him," he said. "I got the run between Liberator and Same World and dashed

really quick.

"I actually dropped my whip when I went to go for him, so the panic button

was hit and I went from looking pretty to kicking him and slapping him and doing

my best to get him across the line! I think I would have won a lot easier if I'd

had a whip to ask him to hit the line."

With Akeed Mofeed storming home late and wide from the tail under Douglas

Whyte, Endowing held on to clock 2:00 3/5 on the good-to-firm turf, a new class

record for the about 1 1/4-mile distance, while Horse of the Year Military

Attack kept on to finish 1 1/2 lengths further back in third. Last year's winner

California Memory was a staying-on fourth.

"It's a very good sign that he can go up in company and meet those ratings of

the better horses," said Size of the gelding, who went into the race rated 108.

"Akeed Mofeed is 118, so he has to go to that to beat him -- he can't do any

more than win and we just have to remain optimistic for further improvement."

Richard Gibson was heartened by the performance of Akeed Mofeed. The classy

colt ran his best race of the season after two unplaced efforts, to suggest he

is on track for a big show at the Hong Kong International Races in three weeks.

"We're very pleased, I thought it was a brilliant ride from Douglas, he rode

him very patiently and the horse showed that impressive turn of foot he showed

last term, so it's great to have him back."

"The horse has had a fantastic season and it's going to be a proud moment for

us waving the Hong Kong flag on international day. We've only got three weeks,

so it will be a straightforward procedure. We tried to almost under-train him

going into this race and I think he'll lose a bit of weight going into the big

one. He was 5 kilos up for this one, so we hope we've got a bit left in the can

-- we're going to need it against those top fillies (Moonlight Cloud and Sky

Lantern) if they line up."

Gold-Fun stopped the clock at 1:33 4/5 with Xtension taking third, a further

length away. The latter showed some of the old sparkle that took him to two

Champions Mile wins but which has been missing for the past year.

"I found myself tracking them four or five lengths off the pace and when the

splits came I had Amber Sky to run down. He gave me everything but the way he

did it he's improved a lot," added Whyte.

"Charles the Great is as honest as the day is long and he's there to fill the

spots when there's a chink in the other horses' armor. I don't think the

sprinters at this stage are the best -- that's our weak link in Hong Kong and I

hope something's going to come through the grades and perform, because if there

is something they'll dominate the sprinting section."

Straight track specialist Eagle Regiment proved to some degree that he

handled both the bend and the distance in finishing a further three quarters of

a length third. Amber Sky, on the other hand, was unable to scotch the view that

he is a pure five-furlong runner. After pinging from the gate to set the tempo,

Neil Callan's mount powered into the stretch but emptied out at the 150-meter

mark and was swamped soon after. It was discovered afterward that he had blood

in the trachea.

Moore, meanwhile, took comfort in the exertions of two of his beaten runners,

Sterling City and Frederick Engels.

"Joao (Moreira) came back and said Sterling City's a dead-set 1,400-meter

horse but from a good gate on the day, if things go his way, he's got to be a

chance next time at the internationals."

The stable's other big hope, Frederick Engels, was unsuited by the wide gate

and raced keenly at the tail before running on late to claim eighth, 3 1/2

lengths off the winner.

"Frederick Engels wasn't suited by the wide draw. He came from off the pace

and I'm sure his last sectional would have been very good, so we're just hoping

he draws a good gate on the 8TH December, then you'll see the real Frederick

Engels."

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