The first Group 1 feature of today’s meeting in Hong Kong has attracted a typically strong field of international stayers, including the classy Stone Age for champion Irish horseman Aidan O’Brien.
The northern hemisphere three-year-old has stamped himself as one to watch with some excellent performances in several countries, and he was last seen finishing second in the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in the United States.
O’Brien’s ability to pick races for his gallopers is second to none, and I am very confident that Stone Age will get the job done under Ryan Moore.
Sweet Encounter has hardly put a hoof wrong since debuting, and he looks the one to beat in Race 6 at Sha Tin today.
The Toronado gelding stamped himself as one to watch by winning each of his first two starts with something in hand, and was only just denied over 1400m here following a month between runs.
He responded with another eye-catching performance and victory over the mile last time, and the 1800m looks as though it will be perfect for him.
I’m siding with another Japanese raider Jack D’or in the Hong Kong Cup.
Jack D’or has notched an impressive seven wins and two minors from his eleven career starts to date, and won over 2000m at Group 2 level in a hit-and-run mission in August.
He returned with a nice effort to finish fourth, beaten a length and a half in the Tenno Sho in late October, and this is arguably a weaker race.
With improvement and under the legendary Yutaka Take, I think that he’ll take plenty of beating.
I’m going to have something on former Aussie Bon’s A Pearla, who lines up for David Hayes for the first time in Hong Kong today.
She was unlucky not to record a Group 1 victory for Kevin Corstens during her Australian tenure, and Bon’s A Pearla was a typically consistent performer throughout her last prep, hitting the line to finish fourth in the Australasian Oaks at her last appearance.
Her trials since arriving in Hong Kong have been full of merit, and this looks a lovely launchpad for her.