Sky Lantern set to shine for HK-based owner; Lord Kanaloa makes swan song

Sky Lantern set to shine for HK-based owner; Lord Kanaloa

makes swan song

Sky Lantern is the star performer of Britain's champion stable in 2013, so it

is only appropriate that she now finds herself competing for glory in Hong Kong

at the Turf World Championships. What is more there is a live chance --

according to many close observers -- that her stunning acceleration will lead to

victory in Sunday's Group 1 Hong Kong Mile.

And anyone who dismisses this Hong Kong challenge as some afterthought after

a campaign that began in April, and catapulted her into the headlines when she

came fast and late to snatch the One Thousand Guineas from under the noses of

her rivals at Newmarket in May, could not be more wrong.

"It was always a dream to come to Hong Kong with her and after that cwin at

Newmarket it became the plan," owner Ben Keswick said as he proudly watched his

three-year-old gray filly enjoy her first encounter with the Sha Tin track under

cloudless skies early on Wednesday morning. 

Although it is fair to say that the filly, who went on to strike more Group 1

gold in 2013 at both Royal Ascot and Newmarket, did take a few days to adapt to

her new environment after coming off the plane last weekend, it is now all

systems go.

"She was a bit quiet to begin with but she's picked up and she knows why

she's here," observed Keswick, who being based in Hong Kong has an added sense

of anticipation leading up to Sunday's spectacular.

Ben's wife Martha added: "The filly really looks on fire. In fact she was so

lively we couldn't get up close to her!"

Sky Lantern is trained by Richard Hannon, who hands over the reins to his son

Richard Jr. on January 1 after a spectacular career that has yield almost 4,200

winners. Hannon has struck up a hugely successful partnership with Sky Lantern's

rider Richard Hughes, fresh from overseas success in Jockeys' Championships in

both South Africa and Japan since being crowned Britain's champion rider for the

second consecutive season last month.

Recalling the post-race comments of Hannon Sr.,, Hannon Jr. and Hughes over

the course of this year, one will constantly find references to Sky Lantern's

preference for good, fast ground conditions, yet another reason why Sha Tin is

the destination for this super talented filly and why Ascot back in October --

soft ground always being likely for that possible Group 1 target -- was not. 

Purchased for just €75,000, Sky Lantern

took little time to shout herself out as a bargain, becoming one of Europe's top

two-year-olds when blitzing her rivals in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the

Curragh in September 2012. That was over seven furlongs, but her three fantastic

victories this year have all come over an identical distance to Sunday's

challenge, and, though current plans suggest that she will be competing at about

1 1/4 miles next year, the decision was made -- after some lengthy discussions

-- to target the Hong Kong Mile rather than the Cup this time.

Tactics-wise, Hannon Jr. commented: "She can stay back or sit handy. We'll

leave it to Hughesie."

Speaking from Happy Valley on Wednesday evening, Hughes said: "You can't

bully this filly, and a decent gate would be a big help."

The rider will surely have preferred a number a shade lower than the eight

allocated at Thursday's barrier draw ceremony, but let's not forget that this

jockey is a master tactician and, in Sky Lantern, he has on his side a gray

filly who has shown her brilliance on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Japan's sprint sensation Lord Kanaloa is bound for retirement

after his title defense in Sunday's Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint. He once again

takes on Hong Kong's speed ace Lucky Nine in a showdown at Sha Tin, which looms

as one of the major highlights of the Turf World Championships.

Despite Lord Kanaloa's holding a 2-0 advantage over Lucky Nine (even if there

were excuses for Hong Kong's hero on both occasions), the King Kamehameha entire

is considered no more than his rival's equal according to the official measure,

the World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Both are rated at 120.

The matter could well be decided in the Hong Kong Sprint. Victory for the

stud-bound Lord Kanaloa would do no harm in enhancing his value in that arena;

might well prompt a hike in his official rating and would certainly have him in

contention for JRA Horse of the Year honors. Not to mention that it would be

well-deserved for a horse who, in terms of top level wins, has arguably been

only outshone by Frankel and Black Caviar since mid-2012.

Lord Kanaloa has been beaten only once in seven starts, five of them at Group

1 level, since September 2012 when his hot streak began with a powerful

finishing burst to claim the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama.

The winning run, for the horse who can stalk the speed or close from behind,

continued next start with his comprehensive win in last year's edition of the

Hong Kong Sprint. He further underlined his prowess on his return home by

stretching his speed to a major Grade 1 win over a metric mile in the Yasuda

Kinen, and this time has journeyed back to Hong Kong with the Sprinters Stakes

title again under his belt.

Whatever rating number sits beside his name, few would argue with the fact

that he has been one of the very best contemporary racehorses.

But that wasn't necessarily the expectation from the start of his career

according to Shogo Yasuda, who has been looking after the horse in Hong Kong.

Shogo is trainer Takayuki Yasuda's son and training assistant and sometimes

track rider.

"When he came to our stable preparing for his debut at three he had a few

physical issues, mainly as a result of muscle strain. He wasn't flexible and he

didn't give you a great feel even when he was just trotting or hacking," he

said.

"So we decided to change things with him and canter him on the uphill course

to stretch his muscles. I remember the first day we did that very well. It was

amazing the change in his gait. Suddenly his stride was powerful and flexible

which he'd never shown us before. And then he just continued to make impressive

progress, handling every task we gave him."

That improvement was obvious for all to see when he progressed to better

class races in 2012 and Yasuda says he will always be considered "very special"

by his family and the stable.

"We have always tried to do the right thing by him and he has repaid us. I've

been riding him for three years and that's been a great pleasure. I appreciate

what he has done and what he has given us," he said.

Yasuda is looking forward to Sunday's race but is mindful that a win is not

always certain in horse racing especially after the five-year-old drew barrier

12.

"I understand the quality of the sprint race and the sprinters here in Hong

Kong, and it is not easy to win a race like this. But the owner told us, after

the Sprinters Stakes, that he would like to target Hong Kong as Lord Kanaloa's

final run and he is here in good shape," he said.

As to Horse of the Year honors in his homeland, Shogo added: "If he is

awarded the JRA Horse of the Year title, we will be greatly honored and will

take our hats off to him. Obviously we don't know about that yet. Right now we

just have to concentrate on having the horse at his best. We do hope that, on

Sunday, he can produce his best race."

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