Mixed reactions to LONGINES HKIR barrier draw
6/12/2012 15:17
Connections, guests and media gathered in hopeful anticipation at the Sha Tin Racecourse parade ring for this morning’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races barrier draw ceremony and the event, never short of drama, produced the usual delight, resignation and stoic disappointment.
The biggest reaction was reserved for local hero Lucky Nine, seeking a second successive win in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, who seems more often than not to pull a disadvantageous draw on the big days. An aching groan permeated the arena and trainer Caspar Fownes was once again left ruing ill-luck as owner Dr Chang Fuk To drew the widest berth of all, the dreaded gate 12.
“It’s incredible, every time I seem to cop it, but it’s just one of those things and we just have to see how good this horse is now. I can’t have him any better – he’s the best he’s ever been!” said the trainer.
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LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint – Owner Dr Chang Fuk To draws barrier 12 for his runner Lucky Nine.
John Size on the other hand was more than satisfied after his stable star Glorious Days was drawn in gate three in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile as he seeks to confirm recent G2 Jockey Club Mile superiority over Hong Kong’s two-time Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon, drawn in gate 11.
“I’m happy with that, it gives us options and we’ll see how the tempo of the race develops,” said Size, adding a cautionary note that, “on his day, if Ambitious Dragon puts in a big performance, he’s unbeatable.”
The latter’s trainer, Tony Millard, was unfazed by his horse’s barrier. “Number 11 doesn’t matter – he’s won from a wide gate here before,” he said.
Cirrus des Aigles heads to the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup as the world’s highest-rated horse in training. Contesting the LONGINIES HKIR for the fourth time and a perhaps unfortunate fifth in this race last year from gate two, he will jump from gate five on Sunday.
“Five is definitely a good draw,” said the six-year-old’s trainer, Corine Barande-Barbe. “It will prevent him being boxed in or having to go wide, and now it will be up to Olivier (Peslier) and the horse.”
California Memory landed the spoils in the 2000m contest in 2011 and connections were beaming after the gallant grey drew identically to last year in gate one.
“It’s a good sign that we’ve got the same gate as last year!” said trainer Tony Cruz.
Meanwhile Her Majesty the Queen of England’s representative, Carlton House, will jump alongside.
“I really like the draw in two for Carlton House – he can sit handy along the fence with some cover,” said trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
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LONGINES Hong Kong Cup – Owner Howard Liang Yum Shing draws Gate 1 for HK Cup defending champion California Memory.
And in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, Mikel Delzangles was delighted with his prospects after last year’s winner Dunaden drew a similar berth to 12 months ago.
“No complaints,” he stated. “We were lucky last year to draw three, and this year we have got gate two.”
Hong Kong trainer John Moore, with no fewer than 11 International runners, not surprisingly came up with a mixed bag at the draw but was generally bullish about his prospects.
“On the whole I’d say we have a better team lining up on Sunday than we did last year,” said Moore who won the 2011 Hong Kong Mile with Able One. “We’ve had some mixed results with the numbers this morning but, on balance, I’d say we haven’t done too badly.”
Moore said that he was confident Xtension would run well, from barrier four, in the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. “He’ll be right there early. James (McDonald) had him on speed when he won the Champions Mile and I’m sure he’ll be looking to do something similar here. I’m happy with him.”
Moore added that he would be content to see Packing OK lead in the Mile and “run them along” from gate nine while Packing Whiz would go back, in any case, and was not disadvantaged by drawing 10.
Further selected barrier draw quotes
LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
John Moore, trainer (IRIAN, ZAIDAN, DAN EXCEL & MILITARY ATTACK): “I’m not concerned about eight for Irian but the 12 draw for Zaidan is not good. He might be exposed, facing the breeze from out there but then again we have the wonder boy James (McDonald) on board and he might weave some magic. Dan Excel will go forward from nine and possibly take it up. Military Attack’s drawn 13 but he’ll go back.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
Tom Hogan, trainer (GORDON LORD BYRON): “Absolutely delighted with that draw (gate six). It’s up to William (Buick) now.”
Francois Doumen, trainer (SIYOUMA): “People here keep on telling me eight is a lucky number, so I’ve got to be happy with it.”
Yoshito Yahagi, trainer (GRAND PRIX BOSS): “I believe that the draw in gate one which he got was the best one for us. My horse will settle in the midfield position.”
Koji Yamamoto, assistant trainer (SADAMU PATEK): “The inside track has been protected very well, so our horse should travel well on the rail. I am very hopeful.”
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Officiating guests and connections of the runners of the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile take to the stage for a group photo at the barrier draw ceremony.
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
Masanori Watanabe, assistant trainer (JAGUAR MAIL): “The track on the inside is protected and will be beautiful, so the number four gate is ideal for him. The wide positions were drawn first by other horses, so I thought I was lucky.”
Ed Dunlop, trainer (RED CADEAUX): “That’s OK, I wouldn’t have minded drawing a little lower, but I’ll settle for eight.”
James Fanshawe, trainer (DANDINO): “Nine is what we’ve got and we’ll take that.”
William Haggas, trainer (DANCING RAIN): “I’m not sure how important the draw is over this trip, but five looks like a good draw.”
Carlos Laffon-Parias, trainer (CHINCHON): “The horse has to come from behind, so I don’t think gate 12 will matter too much – I don’t think it’s important at a mile and a half like it is at a mile and a quarter here.”
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LONGINES Hong Kong Vase – Trainer William Haggas draws Gate 5 for his runner Dancing Rain.
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Akiko Suzuki, owner (CURREN CHAN): “Number eight is great. I like numbers one and eight, so I drew first in the field and took my favorite “8″, which was lucky, and the strong Hong Kong horses did not get the best draws, which may bring some fortune to us.”
Yasunari Iwata, jockey (LORD KANALOA): “The inside draw (six) is very good, but my horse will compete well whatever the draw is. He is in a perfect condition and has lots of scope to be a top sprinter.”
John O’Shea, trainer (SEA SIREN): “I’m very happy, gate seven is ideal. I didn’t really want to draw one or two and I didn’t want 12. I can see the speed coming across and from one or two you’ve got to be punched up to hold your spot all the time, so from seven we can just come across and it gives us a few options. We’re going to be ‘on the bunny’, so from seven we can be there.”
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LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint – Japanese runner Lord Kanaloa is drawn to start from barrier 6 on Sunday.
John Moore, trainer (ADMIRATION, CAPTAIN SWEET & LEADING CITY): “We’ll he happy to lead in the Sprint with Leading City from gate four. Captain Sweet can box seat from two while Time After Time will probably be three back the fence, from three, and looks a live chance. Admiration’s drawn out in nine but he’ll be better than midfield. You’ve got to put him into the race and get him running. The favourite (Lucky Nine) might have his work cut from the outside draw.”
Race Information - LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
| Race 8 – THE LONGINES HONG KONG CUP |
| Sunday, December 09, 2012, Sha Tin, 16:30 |
| Turf, “A” Course, 2000M |
| Prize Money: $22,000,000.00, -, Group One |
| No. | Colour | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Draw | Trainer | Rtg. | Gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
CIRRUS DES AIGLES | 126 | O Peslier | 5 | Barande-Barbe | - | |
| 2 |  |
CALIFORNIA MEMORY | 126 | M Chadwick | 1 | A S Cruz | - | |
| 3 |  |
CARLTON HOUSE | 126 | R Moore | 2 | Sir M R Stoute | - | |
| 4 |  |
ALCOPOP | 126 | C Williams | 4 | J Stephens | - | |
| 5 |  |
SWEET ORANGE | 126 | W C Marwing | 10 | D E Ferraris | - | TT |
| 6 |  |
IRIAN | 126 | G Mosse | 8 | J Moore | - | H |
| 7 |  |
ZAIDAN | 126 | J McDonald | 12 | J Moore | - | |
| 8 |  |
DAN EXCEL | 126 | N Callan | 9 | J Moore | - | H-/SR/XB/TT1 |
| 9 |  |
MILITARY ATTACK | 126 | B Prebble | 13 | J Moore | - | H/SR |
| 10 |  |
SAONOIS | 123 | A Hamelin | 7 | J-P Gauvin | - | |
| 11 |  |
FEUERBLITZ | 123 | M Guyon | 6 | M Figge | - | |
| 12 |  |
AUTUMN GOLD | 123 | D Whyte | 3 | S Woods | - | |
| 13 |  |
GIOFRA | 122 | C Soumillon | 11 | de Royer-Dupre | - | XB/TT |
Race Information - LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
| Race 7 – THE LONGINES HONG KONG MILE |
| Sunday, December 09, 2012, Sha Tin, 15:50 |
| Turf, “A” Course, 1600M |
| Prize Money: $20,000,000.00, -, Group One |
| No. | Colour | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Draw | Trainer | Rtg. | Gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
AMBITIOUS DRAGON | 126 | Z Purton | 11 | A T Millard | - | B |
| 2 |  |
XTENSION | 126 | J McDonald | 4 | J Moore | - | XB |
| 3 |  |
GLORIOUS DAYS | 126 | D Whyte | 3 | J Size | - | B |
| 4 |  |
GORDON LORD BYRON | 126 | W Buick | 6 | T A Hogan | - | XB |
| 5 |  |
SADAMU PATEK | 126 | Y Take | 2 | M Nishizono | - | |
| 6 |  |
GRAND PRIX BOSS | 126 | H Uchida | 1 | Y Yahagi | - | |
| 7 |  |
PURE CHAMPION | 126 | M Chadwick | 12 | A S Cruz | - | TT |
| 8 |  |
DON BOSCO | 126 | O Peslier | 5 | D Smaga | - | |
| 9 |  |
MASTER OF HOUNDS | 126 | C Soumillon | 7 | W J Haggas | - | XB |
| 10 |  |
PACKING WHIZ | 126 | B Prebble | 10 | J Moore | - | H/XB |
| 11 |  |
PACKING OK | 126 | W C Marwing | 9 | J Moore | - | H- |
| 12 |  |
SIYOUMA | 122 | G Mosse | 8 | F Doumen | - |
Race Information - LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
| Race 4 – THE LONGINES HONG KONG VASE |
| Sunday, December 09, 2012, Sha Tin, 14:00 |
| Turf, “A” Course, 2400M |
| Prize Money: $15,000,000.00, -, Group One |
| No. | Colour | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Draw | Trainer | Rtg. | Gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
SEA MOON | 126 | R Moore | 3 | Sir M R Stoute | - | SR/V |
| 2 |  |
DUNADEN | 126 | C Williams | 2 | M Delzangles | - | SR |
| 3 |  |
MEANDRE | 126 | M Guyon | 10 | A Fabre | - | |
| 4 |  |
CHINCHON | 126 | O Doleuze | 12 | Laffon-Parias | - | |
| 5 |  |
JOSHUA TREE | 126 | C Soumillon | 6 | M Botti | - | TT |
| 6 |  |
RED CADEAUX | 126 | G Mosse | 8 | E A L Dunlop | - | |
| 7 |  |
DANDINO | 126 | J Crowley | 9 | J R Fanshawe | - | |
| 8 |  |
JAGUAR MAIL | 126 | D Whyte | 4 | N Hori | - | B |
| 9 |  |
LIBERATOR | 126 | W C Marwing | 7 | D E Ferraris | - | B2/TT |
| 10 |  |
SCARLET CAMELLIA | 126 | Z Purton | 13 | C S Shum | - | TT |
| 11 |  |
DANCING RAIN | 122 | J Murtagh | 5 | W J Haggas | - | |
| 12 |  |
PAGERA | 122 | O Peslier | 11 | H-A Pantall | - | |
| 13 |  |
BAYRIR | 121 | C Lemaire | 1 | de Royer-Dupre | - | SR |
Race Information - LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
| Race 5 – THE LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT |
| Sunday, December 09, 2012, Sha Tin, 14:40 |
| Turf, “A” Course, 1200M |
| Prize Money: $15,000,000.00, -, Group One |
| No. | Colour | Horse | Wt. | Jockey | Draw | Trainer | Rtg. | Gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
LUCKY NINE | 126 | B Prebble | 12 | C Fownes | - | |
| 2 |  |
SUPER EASY | 126 | J Moreira | 10 | M J Freedman | - | TT1 |
| 3 |  |
JOY AND FUN | 126 | G Mosse | 1 | D Cruz | - | SW/TT1 |
| 4 |  |
LORD KANALOA | 126 | Y Iwata | 6 | T Yasuda | - | |
| 5 |  |
ADMIRATION | 126 | N Callan | 9 | J Moore | - | B |
| 6 |  |
LEADING CITY | 126 | M Chadwick | 4 | J Moore | - | H-/TT |
| 7 |  |
TIME AFTER TIME | 126 | D Whyte | 3 | J Moore | - | XB/TT |
| 8 |  |
CAPTAIN SWEET | 126 | J McDonald | 2 | J Moore | - | SW |
| 9 |  |
CERISE CHERRY | 126 | R Fourie | 5 | D Cruz | - | B/TT |
| 10 |  |
FLYING BLUE | 126 | U Rispoli | 11 | D Cruz | - | B/H |
| 11 |  |
SEA SIREN | 122 | J Cassidy | 7 | J O’Shea | - | B |
| 12 |  |
CURREN CHAN | 122 | K Ikezoe | 8 | T Yasuda | - | H |
